ACCLIMATISATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1214, 24 August 1911, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION.

CONFERENCE OF DOMINION SOCIETIES, . . sojii-: important matters. The annual conference of the Acclimatisation Societies of New Zealand was held in the Chamber of Commerce yesterday, under the presidency of Mr. L. 0. 11. Tripp, of Wclliiglon. Tho following delegates were present:—Messrs. A. I J". Loivc (AsJiburton and Werfland), ;W. G. Aspinajl (Ashlnirton and Canterbury), J. P. O'Kegan (Duller), L. S. G. Gorton (lending), A. .1. Ruthcrfcrd 'Grey).' C. H. Gould (Hobson), W. l'ollard (Marlborough), J. Pollock (Nelson), I!. , Chisliolm (Otago), G. \V. M'liitosli (Otngo), C. A. Whitney (Opotiki), A. Hope fSauth Canterbury), J. A. Honan (Southland.!, W. G. .Kirkwood (Stratford), It. Sou they (Tauranga), P. G. Smith OVaimarina), K. N. Lifh'ton (Wangamii), and L. H. 13. Wilson (Wellington). , THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet (already published), the president.(Mr..Tripp) slated thai during the year fishing had been good in parts and indifferent in' others. Taupo and its streams had been particularly good, and there so many fish had been caught that a good deal of waste had gone on, and ho would suggest that, the Government should devise some plan of collecting the surplus catches and sell them. Deer-stalking in Otago and Canterbury had been"'good, and if anything slightly better than last jw. Wairarapa was overstocked, and it woild do no harm to thin out the herds judiciously. The Wellington Society had imported from England some of the celebrated Warnham Park herd, and as they bred they were being liberated in- the district to freshen up the blood of long-established herds. Pheasant shooting had been good in the north, but poor in the Wellington district. Quail' were just about holding >thcir own. Ducks had beeu fairly plenti-. ful. Indeed, so much so, that a working man had written him from the Woirarapa Lake staling that no one who shot over the lake as a regular thing would object to paying .£1 for a license instead of the 10s. now charged. He strongly, urged that all native birds should be protected, and advocated a X2O fine for th? destruction of birds or eggs. The) Government should 'acquire the remaining portion of Kapiti (they already own a part), and tho whols island should be kept as a reserve for bird life. Native birds were gradually diminishing, and tho only way to save many species from extinction was to catch •specimens and put them.on the island.'and tu make and keep as many sanctuaries as possible. The Government had not been idle: Tho Little Carrier and Resolution Islands,' and a part of Kopiti, had been acquired as sanctuaries, and scenic -reserves had been created' on the mainland, but they should bring all the pressure they could to bear'on. the. Government to conserve all the islands, and prevent any interference with the reserves. Specimens of'native birds should bo'placed on the islands—in particular, such of the flightless birds which were left. The Government might appoint who would with- those of the different- acclimatisation societies. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Tho election of officers resulted as fol- , ' lows:—President. Mr. L. 0. 11. Tripp; vice-president, Mr. C. A. Frtzroy, Hawke's B;iy; council. Major Hazard, and Mr. Earlo (Auckland). Dr. Moorehouso.(Canter.bury), G. W. .M'lntosh and K. Chisholm (Otago). W. G. Aspinall , (South Canterbury), J. A. Hanan (Southland), Kirkwood (Stratford). W. Pollard (Marlborough), A. F. Lowe (Wellington), J. U. Wilson (Taranaki), and E. N. Liffiton (Wanganui); treasurer, Mr. H. U. Ostler; auditor, Mr. G. B. Hull; secretary, Mr. C. I. Dascnt. THE REMITS. , ; iMr. Gould (Hobson) moved: "That, this meeting send a delegate to the Acclimatisr ation Societies' Conferenco with a view, amongst other things,.of getting Iho.various acclimatisation societies to work wilh .tho Government for the importation of game suitable/for the various acclimatisation districts."—Tho remit was lost.

Mr. Liffi'ton (AA'anganui) moved: "That tlio law be altered so as (o have the following effect: "That rangers, appointed by a society for its district should have legal standing in surrounding districts, subject to the Direction of the societies of those districts.'—Carried. Mr. Hanau, (Southland) moved:' "That tho Animals' Protection Acts bo so amended so as. to Rive the Govcrnor-in-Council power "to issue regulations, whereby the fee for taking* hares may* he'fixed to suit the various acclimatisation districts." Tho remit was lost It was decided that a £1 license be issued for general game, and a, 10s. license for native game only. Major Hazard (Auckland) moved: "That the license to shoot imported game be not as at present confined to one district, but that it bo placed on a par with the fishing license, and made applicable to the whole Dominion." Sir. Soul hey (Tauranga) took .strenuous objection to this remit. His district, was near the town of IVailii, which had a population of 7000 psoplp, and it was the common practice for them to come across the border in droves and absolutely denude the district. "You all know what these fellows from the eity : are A party of them go buti spread out in i line, and absolutely clear tho country." Major Hazard (Auckland) moved: "Bach acclimatisation society to be empowered Iα issue its own deer and game licenses.—Carried. Sportsmen and "Shoot.ists." The following remits were taken together:—(J) "That the shoatins season for native game be froin June 1 to July 31 (Waimate). (2) "That Die sheeting season for native and imported game bo reduced to two months in cac,h year, viz., the months of June and July (Marlborough). (3) "That the shooting .season - in the '.North Islnml be limited to two months, viz., "May and June. (Hnwke's Bay).' Mr. Pollard (Mnrlboroiigh) said that theio was no question in his mind that game was disappearing from New Zealand. There was a time when Nelson and Marlborongh simply .warmed with quail, but. there were practically few left. The trouble was that the number - of sportsmen were decreasing, and the number of "shootisti," popple who appeared to go out shooting for .the sake of advertisement, was increasing. He tried to impress on his friends .that that was not the proper thing—they, should.be content with a brace or I wo at a time. Mr Pollard {for Hawke s Bay and Marlborough) ■ moved ■ that the shooting season for the North Island and .Marlborough be from tho middle of May tn the middle of July. 1 his wa* lost. The AVaimate remit was al*o thrown out on the voices.- ."'■"!,' , The following remits were, taken together Tor the. purpose .of discussion:"That next season be an open season far the shooting of Paradise ducks (C.an-tH-burv). "The Minister lor Internal •UTairs be recommended to open a short *enscn for shooting Paradise ducks during lili - " , in Mielr districts - as may bo recommended by the local Acclimatisation Society" (Otngo). . After a dismission. Mr. Aspinall withdrew the first remit, 'and accepted that of Otago, with the word "short" struck out. In this form the second remit was | Ca Mi\ Aspinall (South Canterbury) also moved:-"Thnt the use of decoys ior duckshooting be limited." It was. decided that ten decoys per gun be allowed. Mr. Aspinall (South Canterbury moved:—"That mai-mais bo not allowed to be built on shooting, water closer than one hundred yards to one nnotlier. Mr. Whitney .seconded, but added that lie would like to see the distance- made 150 yards for safety sake. AYith this altera- . tion 'the motion was carried . The president (.Wellington) .moved:—. "That the Government be requested to acquire from the Native.-; any land forming part of the ishnd of Kapiti, at present belonging to such Natives, and that (he whole island 1)? kept, as a sanctuary for birds."'—Carried. Deer-Stalking. Mr \. T\ Lowe (lor . Ashburlaii) moved:—"That regulations for deeiv <talkers be gazetted much earlier than at nnsfiit."—Carried. ■ Mr. l<o wv :.<l«> moved and Mr. Aspinall foconded:—"(a) That no-license to shoot deer ahould be granted until at least a

fortnight after (he advertisement statin;: 'licences can be applied for; (b) (hat nil applications mode prior to tbat dale be. not considered;- (c) (hat every application 1)3 accompanied by a deposit of (£) to be returned if license lis not granted." The seconder made a strong point of the practice of limiting (he number of licenses to those (o whom blocks havo been allotted practically before the. licenses arc toned. As soon as one season was over be put in on 'application for the' following seasons and these .applications were given priority when the licences wore.issued. This gave the public no earthly chance of Retting a block. '/"This acted, detrimentally fo oversea visitors, anil j>cople who would like to fake up stalking as a sport. The remit, which was opposed by the 01 ago delegates, was carried. The president moved and Mr. 0 Regan seconded:—"Tint the. Animals Protection Act bo amended to provide (a) that any person found trespassing with a doj or gun on any land sot apart as reserves or sanctuarits for -birds■ oy'animals s.inll ba liable to" a' penalty of not less than .£") and not .£2O; (b) I hat any porta n found trespassing on any land _ n-t apart asTtestixes.br. sanctuaries f::r birds or animajs shall be liable- I a a penally of not less th'aii-cCI and not exeecdms .£5. —

Carried. ' ~, Mr. Jl'lntosli (Otago) moved and Mr. Chisholm seconded:—"That, (he conlcrMice be asked t-j express an opinion upon the advisability or otherwise of ulbwuri s.(a!kers to conlinup to sheot red (leer stags djU'in? the earlier pmod ol llib rutting sCTMii.'und to. limit t lie tinio that should be allowed io go en. b the country la-not more, than three days prior' (o the' dntp fixed for. opening .th:> season" 'After the remit was. ralraf.ted by Jfr. O'Kegan to raid tint in Hie (m of the Ol»«n district the ylalkins s.easJii open .(en days later, (lie- proposal was carried. . .„,„ , Mr. Cbisholm.'OlaKO.i iimycd:- Hint the slin'i>)ej' fnr, Tnlermil Allans 1:? Teeoinmciulsd 'fo csmrafln nli"o|»en 's-ca-on. n-xt vrar, for < pojrUins, siibjtct Io resula-Hans't-D be submitted by the respective societies interesti-d."-C-:\rncd. On the motion of Air. SI Inlcsh it was resolved-"Tint black swair he removed from the protected list, its habit- heiiis considered detrimental -loathe wrll-being of the native duel;.". ~.,.- . ■ Mr. Lowe.' (i'-ir Uellmston) niov?d :- "That the number of nativo name allowed to lie shot per Rim per day be liniucd. This was '■-scowled' by Mr. Whitney, who propose} that the number of native gnmo to be taken be not more than 2."i per gun per day. So amended, the motion was carried. Fisheries Act. Mr. J.' 10. WiL».m (Ta'ranaki) moved :- "That- an nnvendmenl of the Fisheries Act bo obtained, providing fur the l'ayineiil to acclimatisation societies of lines' impeded upon onVnders convicted iipmi •prosecutions under Ills- provisions of J'art 2 of the statute, in the same manner as fines imposed on convictions on prosecutions under the regulations rt acclimatisation societies."—Carried. It was inovfd by Air. . .1. h. \Vilsmi (Taranaki):-"Tbat an amendinont of the Fisheries Act be obtained, providing that all weirs and constructions placed across lish-bc-aring rivers or waters by local bodies or others be provided with proper fish ladders or ways."-Carried. Air. Aspinall's motion—"l hat fho eonferenco recommend the extension of tho GshiiiK ssasou to May IB in each year"— was defeated on the voices ■ It was moved by Air. Al'lntosh (Otago) "That the Government be asked to contimio- their efforts to establish Atlantic salmon in the Waiau Kiver, Southland." Air. Tri'pp (AVellington) moved:—"That the Stamp Act. and Heath Duties Act beamended to exempt from Hie payment of duly any transfer, conveyance', gift, devise, or'bequest to any acclimatisation society, cr to any person or persons in trust for any acclimatisation society."— Carried. It was moved by Air. Tripp (WoHiliff(o •.—•'That tho Government be requested to reprint, the Animals' Protection and Fisheries Act. with amendments (o date, in the pamphlet form issued last year."— Carried. ' A hearty vote of thanks e-lescd the conference.. Tho delegates, are to mret at; 'Ihe Chamber «>' Commerce at 1O.:}(1 o'clock -this morning, for the purpose of interviewing the Alinitter for internal Affaire.