GAME REGULATIONS A “BOMBSHELL”

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 146, 16 March 1939, Page 10

GAME REGULATIONS A “BOMBSHELL”

Provision For Vermin Control APPROPRIATION OF PART OF LICENCE FEE “This is in some ways a bombshell,” said the chairman, Dr. G. F. V. Anson, at last night’s council meeting of the Wellington Acclimatization Society. He referred to a letter from the Department of Internal Affairs drawing attention to the new game regulations. Tlie letter, which was accompanied by a copy of the Animals. Protection and Game Regulations gazetted a week ago, pointed out that as far as North Island acclimatization societies were concerned, provision had been made for a 30/- fee for licences to take or kill imported and native game. From this fee, 5/- was to be paid to the Council of North Island Acclimatization Societies to be devoted to payment of bonuses to persons in the North Island, other than officers and paid rangers of registered acclimatization societies, for destruction of hawks, stoats, ferrets, polecats and weasels. Further provision was made for the issue, to persons receiving an age benefit or . a miner’s benefit under the Social Security Act, of game licences at a fee of 20/-. In these cases no provision was made for any payment to the North Island council. “I don’t think the whole implications of -tlie matter can be discussed profitably now,” said the chairman. “I know’ that it has not yet been considered by the North Island council. Where the idea originated is up to the moment something of which, we cannot be sure.”

“I grant that there are certain compensations. One groat compensation is that the Government has undertaken in respect to its own district the same disabilities it lias imposed on tlie societies. and is paying a similar sum out of licence fees into the central pool. "The majority of feeling on the North Island Council, however, and it is a big majority, as I am in a position to know, is against any such pool. “At present the best tiling to do is to receive tlie letter, and allow tlie game committee and the executive- to go into the regulations carefully, and bring down a report to the next meeting.” , , "We made certain recommendations to the Minister, and he has varied them,” said Mr. D. J. Gibbs, chairman of the finance committee. “We should make a very careful study of the regulations in detail. It is hardly fair to give an opinion offhand.” Dr. Anson said the main features ot the matter seemed to be that _ the regulations had been drawn up either without or against the advice of the societies concerned; and that on the other hand they could not help being pleased that whatever obligations the Government had imposed on societies it had itself undertaken in its own district. It was decided to defer detailed discussion till the matter had been considered by the game committee.

LICENCE FEES

Hint Of Increase In South Island Dominion Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, March 15. A hint that an added 5/- will have to be paid for game licences in the South Island this season was given by tlie Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. I’arrv, on Tuesday night. The extra revenue will be devoted to a special fund for the extermination of pests. Licence fees had been fixed at 30/in the North Island, said the Minister, and 5/- was set aside for a central fund to be used in eradicating the vermin that preyed on native bud life an game. The increased cost ot licences in the north was brought about only after long and serious discussion. There was no use breeding birds and liberating them to be consumed or c stroyed by vermin. i,,...]® “The conservation ot nali't buds and game in this country is very important,” said Mr. Parry, and as a re suit of the very great investigation I ’have made since I have been m office, lam determined iu do all that po& siblo to preserve the birds »aine, and to give opportunity tot future erations to enjoy the beauties ot the native bird life. It is up to every sportsman to assist in the work ot conserving the bird life of the country. In the North Island, the Government had discovered, one society paid subsidies on the extermination of vermin, while the adjoining society did nothing. As was well known to everybody, vermin were migratory, and the only way that they could be satisfactorily dealt with was by extermination efforts, through a central turn.. lhat had been done in the North Ismncl, yet it was important that the work ot eradication should be done nationally. The work had to be done in _ the South Island as well as in the North Island, said Mr. Parry.