ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2783, 30 May 1916, Page 6

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING

PRESERVATION OF FORESTS

The annual meeting of tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society wns held last night. Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp (chairman) presided over a satisfactory attendance. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, a precis of which was published yesterday, the chairman said that in view of the war the report was satisfactory, 'i'hero had been a serious fallijig-otf in reecipts from the salo of try. Some years ago they used to get some *£200 or ,£'3oo a year from this 6ource. Practically no fry had been sold at all during the year. The council had to consider tho question of economy, and it had been decided to economise at the game farm and the Masterton fish ponds. During the year tho society had lost tho services of Mr. Ross, curator of the game farm, ono of the best servants they had ever had. The society had arranged with Mr. F. Carlson to reside on the game farm and look after the deer herd. The fishing durine the yea? had been Tather patchy. Mr. Field and himself had waited on the Minister of Internal Aifairs in regard to opossums, and it was hoped that protection would be afforded tbefe animals, which wero easily trapped and killed. There were no regulations at all nt present. On the whole the report was a satisfactory one, and with the economies proposed, next year's report should be a better one.

Mr. W. G. Talbot objected to the payment of delegates' expenses, JE27 75., which he said was an uuusual item of expenditure. Ho also complained that there was no news of the society's doings disseminated "through the Press. He considered ■ that visitors'! fees for fishing should bo increased. The New Zealand Society should take action in regard to the National Park, which was one of the finest parks in New Zealand. It could be turned into a beautiful shooting and fishing country.

Tho chairman said that he agreed with Mr. Talbot in regard to imposing higher fishing fees on visitors. In America visitors had to pay much higher fees than residents. Much moro should be' done in regard to the preservation of the bush, and ho suggested that Mr. Talbot should write to the secretary of the Forests and Birds' Protection Society, with a view to having something done in that direction.

Mr. A. T. Bate suggested raising the license for fishing to .£2 2s. Mr. A. F. Lowe (hon. secretary) said that delegates could not afford to pay their own expenses, and the system of payment had worked well. Mr. S. Tisdall objected to payment of delegates. The system should be abolished.

Mr. H. B. Wilson said that payment of delegates' expenses prevented the formation of local societies, which would uripple the Wellington .body. Mr. Field said 'that the recommendations of Dt. Cockayne in regard to the National Park at Tongariro should be carried out and the area extended. The park would then, be one to be proud of. He stressed the need for bird preservation and forest conservation. In many cases land which was quito unfit for cultivation had been cleared and the scen-.ry destroyed. He wa9 in hopes that the National Park would he extended aud preserved for all time, and that tho bush on the slopes of the Tararuas would be preserved. Tho society ought to uso all its efforts to induce tho Government rot to cut into the bush on these areas. Ho cited an American visitor, who had declared that New Zealand had played tho fool in regard to the country's forest iesei'ves. 11l regard to hawks, he advocated a concerted eifort to redact) their numbei - . .Referring to opossums, lie belioved that it:i industry worth hundreds of thousands a year could be built up were proper regulations enforced. He suggested that the society might induce some r*ma,to individuals to purchaso land containing bush on tho saddle, between Waikanae and tho Upper Hutt for scenery preservation purposes, and to serve for tho feeding oi birds.

Mr. Tisdall moved 'that it be a recommendation to' the incoming council that country committees should inako arrangements to pay expenses of their delegates, ns the funds of the society did not permit of such expenditure. Mr. Talbot seconded the motion, which was carried.

On tho motion of Mr. Tisdnll, it was decided that all post offices be asked to see that directions ok licenses are fully complied with. i . 'Mr. Seed moved that it be a recommendation to tho incoming council to post to all moinbers who return butts of licenses a copy of the report and naWncesheet one week before the annual general meeting. This was agreed to. Jlr. Field movod: "That the Government be urged to give its early and serious attention to the evil of felling further areas of our nativo forests on lands uisuited for farming purposes; to the urgont need for maintaining our present forest and • scenic reserves in their entirety; that the area of Tongariro National Park he extended as recommouded by Dr. Cockayne; that areas be set apart for treatment by scientific forestry; and that as far as possible effective .steps be taken to discourage to the utmost the wanton and useless destruction of native trees, this council being of opinion that our climatic conditions are altered for the worse, floods and destruction of land nnd personal property are' occasioned, the scenic charms of our country seriously diminished, nfrtl extermination threatens our native bush birds by the continuance unchecked of the destruction of our native forests; a copy of this resolution to be sent to other acclimatisation societies and to tho Minister of Internal Affairs and seconded the motion, nhich was agreed to. On tile motion of Mr. Talbot, sccon.lsa bv Mr. Tisdall, it was decided to recommend the council to revise the rules of the society. Officers for the ensuing year were appointed as follow :-President, His Excellency the Governor (Earl of Liverpool); vice-presidents, Messrs. 'W. H. Beetham, 11 C. Bruce, A. J. Rutherford, L. b. Reid and E. Riddiford; -council, Messrs. C G. Allan, W. Andrew (Wairarapa North), E. 0. Leppien (Wairarapa ?..iuth), J Brassel, A. D. Crawford (Rangititei Smith). Dr. H. A. B. Davies (Leyin), W. H Field, M.P.. R. V. Lloyd (Palmwston North), A. F. Lowe, L. O H. Tripp, F. 0. Tumor (Ekelahuna) W. Wokemnn (Paliiatua), F. Whitley, E ,T. C. Wiffin, ,W. G. Talbot, and S. G. Nathan; auditor, Mr. W. S. Wheeler.