ROD AND GUN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1519, 15 August 1912, Page 8

ROD AND GUN.

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES. DOMINION CONFERENCE. The. tenth annual conference of dole gates from the various district acclimali sahon societies in Now Zealand opened ycslwday at Hie Chamber of Commerce Mr. L-. 0. 11. Inpp, president of the Ncu Ai'alana Acclimatisation Societies' Ai-o ciatiou, an the chair. There were*pi* sent tho following deleaves -.-Lieut A'ol j>»'f H. Hazard and Captain J. El hot (Auckland); Mr. l>. J. ORegan (Bui je' , ); Mr. (J. A. Whitney (Ccromandel anC Opotiki); Mr. L. St. G. Gorton (Foildine) Mr. A. J. Rutherford'(Grov); Mr. C \ Fiferoy (Hawkc's Bay) J. E. EllioU (Hoteon); Mr. W. Pollard (Marlbornugh) (Otago); Mr. E. Russell (South land); Mr. W. p. Kirkwcod (Stratford) Mr. J. . E. Wilson (Taranaki) j Mr. H ooiittioy (fauranga); Mr. P. G. Smitl; (Waimanno); Mr. .C. Swinard (Waitaki and Waimate); Mr. E. Xγ Liffiton (Wi nganui); i cssre. L. H'. B. Wilson and C B-.Tnmnell (Wellington); Mr. A. P. Low TUstlaud); and Mr. W. H. Johnstur (Whangarei). The President's Address. In formally opening thfe proceedings tho chairman referred to the question oi creatine a bird sanctuary at Kapiti Is lanci. lie reminded membors that th< cometies' Conference last year adopted s resolution asking the Government- to "acquire the whole of the island. Since- then an agitation had been orgunised with the object of. having the island thrown open to tho public as a week-end, renrt. H< ;ras rerv strongly cf opinion that: the island should be reserved for a- bird sanctuary, and he hoped that the Government vcotild eventually purchase' the whole of tlw island , V "I n-ake it a sane- , «ry for all time. Hβ also.hoped thai in. those pans ot !\ew Zealand where there was now very little bush the Government would acquire what bush there was available, and declar's them to be scenio reserves and bird sanctuaries. The fishing feastm, he continued', had not been very good, taking the ' Dominion 'as :\ whole, and i he . was afraid that the recent floods in many districts would prove detrimental to the next fishing season. Fishing in many parts had been going baok; as the number of fish increased, tho food eupply diminished, so that the tendency was for tho fish to get smaller. Could not something be done to increase the food supply? Or wore there other causes for the declining quality of the fish ? ,'l'he chairman also tortclied upon the nuisance created by the indiscriminate pollution of rivers. He .understood that-a strong deputation had waited on the Prime Minister, and asked for an amendment in the law, which, he gathered would allow certain industries to pollute the streams to a limited extent. He sincerely hoped, that no such amendment would Ire attempted. He moved the adoption of tho annual report and balanceslrect (previously published in The DoIIINIOX). Mr. A. J. Rutherford (Grey) remarked that the deterioration of the'finny sport in many of the rivers was to bs.accounted for to some extent by the immense increase in tho number of shags. Up till Eomo time ago fishermen had- some interest in destroying the birds, but at the present time the shaggcries were being left in peace. . : :- p -. Mr. C. A. Fitzroy (Hawlre's Bay) agreed that a systematic, campaign against the shags was n-ecessary, as they did considerable damage. • ■ Mr. H. Southey.(Tauranga) said that the oaly way of fighting this pest' was to offer a, substantial reward for the dcstnic.faon of the shaggerics. (Hear, hear.) The report and balance-sheet were adopted. ''■•'■ L Guns and Licenses* On the motion of 'Mr. H: Sdiithey (Tauranga), tho conference resolved: "That the Government be requested to impose a special license of ss. on all persons carrying pra rifles, except those used under such conditions as may bo deemed- expedient. , ■■ . '~. ,-*'':•• :■' The conference reaffirmed th'o remit Sadopted .lost year.S'f'-t-That license for shooting imported and native game be issued at 205., and that licenses for Shcohng native game be issued at 10s. per anmim." Lieut.-Col'onel Hazard, who moved tho remit, remarked that the previous Government last year had promised to favourably consider this question, but nothing had since been heard of it. Hawks and Shags, Mr. C. A. Whitney (Opotiki) moved: I'hafc ail acclimatisation soeaeties ba urged to wage war upon hawks anu shags.' Air. H. fcouthey (Tauranga), who seconded the motion, said tiiat the only certain method oi cieaJmg with hawHs was per meaium of poison. Trapping -ivas practically useless. Mr. W. Poilard (Marlborough) said that poisoning was quite effective. A preparation could bo procured which, placed in tho interior of a dead rabbit, could bo relied upon to deal with the pest. The motion was passed. Imported Ova, On the motion of Mr.C. Swinart'h (VTaitaici;, focouued by Mr. J. nutuenord (urcy;, tae uonfereiice resolved: "Tnat tue ■ uovtiuiuent ue''urged io continue, me uuporcauun. ot Atlanuc saimon." •j.'nu loho.wi.ng reiiut by Mr. H.- Southey (T'auranga) was l-eien-oa to the oouucu: "Inat a special committee-bo set up tor the purpose of ecniemug witli tho i>'isuenes Liepartment with regard to the intrciluction of alerting Usil other than salmouiuao." The idea was, as explained by the mover, to stock those waters in wnjen there was at present no hsh. in order to proviue sport for the districts concerned. American black bass, Baiiarat perch, and Murray cod were mentioned an uuitawo iish. . There. i,us no discussion on the following remit, moved by the chairman, on bunalf ot Canterbury, anil adopted by the ooul'erence: '"rhat toe Act be amended so as to allow knots to bo shot durin? the «ime season as godvits." Tho confea'eriee ais'o resolved, on the motion of Mr. W. l>; Kirkwood (Stratford): "That the Government be requested to instruct the constabulary to lake a greater interest in getting convictions of offenders under the Auiinais' Protection, and Fisheries Acts." On the motion of Mr. B. Russell (Southland) it was resolved: "That the Government bej, asked to make, it aii offence for any person to be found on a sanctuary in pos-sejsion of a gun." ;At this stage tho conference adiourned till 11.15 a.m. to-day. About.noon a deputation from the conference will interview the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. H. I). Bell), and submit to him the resolutions adopted. '

Officers Elected. Jlr. L. H.Tripp was re-elected . president ou the. motion of Mr. B: N." Liffiton (Wanganrii), seconded by."Mr.- Mv Pollard (Jlqrlbottmgh), the motion being- .-carried amid applause. MrV'C'.'A. Fitzroy was re-elected vice-president,- and tho "following wore-elected to." the council:—Mr. E. Southoy. (Tnurnngn), Liouf.-C'ol. Iloz.ird (Aueklimil), Dr. B. Jloprhouse' (Canterbury); n'lul Messrs. TV. Tollard (Mnrlboroiieh), C.-W. Chamberlain-(Otago), W. G. M'lntoMi (Otnso), W.-G. Aspinall fSouth Canterbury), E. Russell , (Southland),'-\V. P. Kirkwood (Stratford), 3'. E. Wilson (Tarnnaki), E. N. Liftilon (Wanganui), ■ A. F. Lowe (Wellington); treasurer, Jlv. It. H. Ostler: secretary;■ Mr. C. I; Dnsont; auditor, Mr. B. B. 'Hull.