GUNS AND GAME.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 876, 23 July 1910, Page 10

GUNS AND GAME.

CHANCED CONDITIONS ASKED, MINISTER'S REPLY. A deputation from the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies' Conference, with Mr. L. 0. 11. Tripp as spokesman, was introduced yesterday to the Hon. D. Buddo, Minister for Internal Affairs, by Mr. Hanan, M.P., who represented Southland at tho conference. The recommendations of the conferonco were detailed at length by Mr. Hanan and further traversed by Mr. Tripp. Their naturo is . sufficiently indicated by the text of tho Minister's reply. General Licenses and Close Season. Tho Minister stated that he did not think that it would bo possible to get Parliament to sanction tho issuo of a general licenso to kill native game. To apply this to big lakes like Waikare, Ellesmere, and Waihola would arouso strong opposition. It was generally understood that these lakes were themselves a protection to native game. He agreed that grey duck were ■ undoubtedly getting scarcer, and it would , bo a very difficult matter to induce Parliament to romovo' them from the protected list. However, ho would consider the matter. With regard to a recommendation that the expediency of declaring a close season every third year bo left entirely to the option of individual societies, ho might state that when this matter camo before . Parliament tho House was practically unanimous that the Government was not to retreat from tho position then taken up. The regulations in force had almost induced a revolution among tho shooting fraternity, and tho result was that a short open season of one month had been granted. In some bush districts quail increased to an excessive degrco, and in their.case protection might in tho interests of fanners bo withdrawn. But as concerned game in general, it was certainly advisable to observe a close season, as far as possible, every third, year. Sportsmen themselves would ultimately havo reason to bo thankful for tho institution 1 of a poriodical close season. It was : hotter to have ono full bag than two ' empty. The Minister unreservedly approved a recommendation that each Acclimati- ■ sation Society's district should be gazetted a separato shooting district. A liconso should operate only in. one district. ' Use of Cylinders. , , While expressing a certain amount of sympathy with a proposal that tho use of cylinders bo prohibited, Mr. Buddo considered there we.ro two sides to the ■ question. Tho cylinder, certainly gave its users a great advantage over sportsmen not so provided, but on the other ' hand it was contended that on somo ■ lakes no sport would be,obtained at all unless cylinders wero .Ho would look into tho matter, and see if anything could bo done in the direction indicated by tho conference. "Ridiculous Penalties." In regard to a remit providing that tho :miniinum fino for breaches of tho Animals' Protection; Act bo fixed at.£3, tho Minister said .he. had. noted .that ridiculous penalties woro sometimes imposed in very serious cases. Often these were no deterrent. At the' same time it would 1)0 difficult to establish a minimum penalty. There were at ■ times .extenuating circumstances that justified magistrates in imposing j nominal fines. . . The next, recommendation requested the Government to give more favourable consideration to recommendations from tho Acclimatisation Societies. Mr. Buddo replied that the Government always tried to deal fairly with the societies, and was often guided by their advice. At times tho Department took into account strong considerations advanced by private people qualified to speak with authority, but no adyico. had over been taken in this way against tho interests of tho societies. He could assure them that there would bo. no inconsiderate interference with ; Acclimatisation Societies.. .. . .',-' ... ~; . .,.1 Native Birds/ ; ,' Replying to a series, of recommonda--1 tions in reference to tho preservation 1 of native birds, Mr. Buddo stated that. ' this-was a very gravo . and serious matter. None of thorn would liko to know that their beautiful ■ native birds wore being exterminated, but gravo difficulties oppesod their preservation, i As tho forests wero cloarod, tho removal of their food supply necessarily ■ led to a diminution in their number, and stoats , and weasels,, and othor , ' enemies • decreased their number 1 still further. Tho Government did what it could by setting asido scenic reserves as sanctuaries, but some of tho birds could scarcely bo preserved savo on tho islands around : tho coasts. The Government was now i inviting private peoplo to set aside, a . portion of their property as a sanctuary. : Five or sis of those had been already established, including some in the Manawatu district, .and tho Government, was still prepared to consider, other applications of a liko kind. It was understood, of course, that the owners as well , as other peoplo wero forbidden „to shoot over theso sanctuaries. Mr. Hanan briefly thanked tho Minister on behalf of the deputation, which then withdrew.