GAME PROTECTION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 279, 19 August 1920, Page 6

GAME PROTECTION

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES CONFER

MEASURES TO COPE WITH

POACHING

The thirteenth conference of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies' Association opened yesterday-in the Accountants' Chambers, under the presidency of Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp. , In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the president said that owing to tho exigencies of -the war, and later tho advent of the epidemic, no conference hud been hold sinco 1915. This year tho House had before it the Animals Protection Act and the Fisheries Act which i l was proposed to amend, nnd at the conclusion of its deliberations opportunity would be giv«n the conference of nutting forward further suggestions. The president went on to refer to tho havoc being wrought among the nsu by tlio use of explosives by poachers. Ho referred to the smallne* of the fines inflicted on offenders, and claimed that the maximum penalty should be substantially increased, and imprisonment awarded in the case of second offenders. Touching Kapiti Island, he urged that the Government should acquire the remaining portion of tho sanctnary comprising some GOO acres from the Native owner!. The island had already fully iustitied its existence as a. sanctuary lor native birds, and many of the species were multiplying considerably The president added that the establishment of T State Forestry Department wmi d result in more bush being reserved than rnthopast, and 4hto would greatly assist he facial inn in its. work of meS■native birds.. Mr.STnpp said he vSwUh alarm the ravages of stoats and weasels among native birds, and pointed out that according to certain authorities the vermin could easily he trapped. Unless stringent measures we.o adopted it would bo impowiMe to increai game-life in New Zealand, nedgeS were .W a pest and a prey . on Lame A point next made by the presided was that if the number of .societies could be reduced and the size of \ht "s rvivovs" materially increased hre wld.be « t much better.chance o obtaining a substantial grant from the Governnient. Greater co-operatan >«; tween the various, societies was al.-o uS V the speaker, who pointed out thS the had created a verv large national asset, . particularly with Sard to the fisheries On tin account it behoved ' the Government to rive the societies a .renter measure of financial support. He referred to the necessity for a scientific study by a spec al expert of our rivers and river■.fish and commended tho work accomplished i" thw respect by Dr. Tilynrd, of the rnwtbron Institute.. Regarding the oiSm the president stated, that ProEr Kirk had recently, made an ? xWive study of this animal and ™inrs and n his Teport to the Lioyern K he tad made valuable suggo.st.ons ektivo to trapping, and orotechoii o ono'sums in native bush dish.ots J. lie iCfes™ was of the opinion that the nrewe of so niany opossums in New End. represented great possibilities iJ the diction of.hi,id.ng in, a ealers Slowed to handle the dans. No predion should .be afforded tho animals in fruit-grown.? v In seconding the motion, Mr h. l. Stond (North Canterbury referred to r£"J w ence of a colony of white herons n hh district, and urged thai additional measures sho/ild bo taken to ensure said that there we. TOetfinions^sa nS The report was then adopted.

Officers Elected,

The following T ° ffi( ;f vi£ (North Canterbury) Messrs E. F. Sea E N Liffiton (Wanganui),, A, P. J/roo (Wincnnui P. J- Dargaville (Hobson), W? ffi (Marlborough); hon treasurer. Mr. J. P. ?*%?*[ S onV S. Wheeler; secretary, Mr. O. 1. JJasonu.

Permits Discussed, S OT A absolute proh.bifirm of the use of auto-loading guns jor Sting feathered imported and native Arising out of other remits from lei for each head of game- taken. In the face of some opposition it was affirmed: That tho Government bo ask--2d To P«T a royalty on al stoats ad in other than rabbUinfested districts. It was also agreed that native game bo brought under the same license as imported game.. A proposal to reduce game licenses for women to ss. was rejected. With a view to .assisting rangers in coping with poaching, it was proposed and carried: "That an annual license of 2s 6d. be imposed upon all persons carrying or using shot guns for the purpose of shooting." . Remits were also passed aiming at preventing a gun or riflo, in a sanctuary except under special permit. The danger of tho .indiscriminate of tho pea-rifle was emphasised in several remits, arising out of which it was resolved to recommend the Government to impose further restrictions in this connection.

With a view to regulating the size of "bags," a remit was passed limiting the number of decoys to twenty-five per man, and prohibiting the use of river decoys. The question of the destruction' of hawks and other vermin on a wholesale scale was referred to Mr. Stead, who will report on the matter to the council. The council was instructed to go into the question of the advisableness of importing "musk ra'." and "heaver" into the Dominion. At the instance of tho Wanganui society the conference affirmed: "That an acclimatisation society shall have tho power to refuse a license to shoot game to any person, if nfter full investigation by the society such person shall have been found acting in a manner contrary to the interests of such society on the general .terms of the Animals Protection Act." Fisheries Act, Several* remits were adopted urging substantial increases lilt the penalties for illegal fishing. In the case of dynamiting, liming, and the like, it was recommended that tho minimum fino bo not less than ,£2O and tho maximum not more than ,£SO. A permit to increaso the cost of fishing licenses by 50 per cent, was lost on a division. It was decided to request the Government to prohibit all netting at- the mouths of rivors. Tho conference will sit again 10-day.