ACCLIMATISATION

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 89, 12 October 1932, Page 8

ACCLIMATISATION

SOCIETIES CONFER

THE OPOSSUM INDUSTRY

FISH EESEARCH

The nineteeifth conference, and the first since 1929, of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies' Association, was opened to-day at the Dominion Farmers' Institute Hall, Mr. L. O. H. Tripp, president, in the chair. The Secretary of Internal Affairs (Mr. Malcolm Fraser) attended. ' The chairman referred to the difficulties of rangers in covering the whole territory in the protection of native birds, and' suggested that the Government should be approached to make its inspectors and others rangers under the bird protection legislation. Hitherto, when this was suggested, the Government had said it was not its job, but if the Government could be induced to enlist the services of its officers, the protection of native birds would be increased. He urged the need of food tree planting for native birds, on such- places as golf links, which in America were mostly bird sanctuaries. He also instanced the Heretaunga golf links. The sycamore was a freely seeding tree, which was inclined to take charge and wipe out native growths. DEALING WITH VERMIN. The German owl was killing out a tremendous number of native birds, and it should bo the duty of the societies to wage war on it. There was a division of opinion concerning the magpie, which, was useful to farmers, but his society considered that only definitely proved kilters should be destroyed. Protection should be taken off stoats and weasels everywhere, except in rabbit infested areas. There was no doubt that these vermin killed off native birds such as robins, pigeons, and wekas. Mr. Tripp congratulated the Auckland Society on the example it had set in destroying 2000 stoats and weasels. Another pest was the hedgehog, which, took eggs and young birds. Ground nesting birds stood no chance. There was evidence that cats, though bird enemies, were also enemies of stoats. More should be done in putting rare birds, such as kakapos, on island sanctuaries. OPOSSUM REVENUE. The Government, quite rightly, had declared a close season in opossums the chairman continued. For years fishing and shooting men had financed the protection of opossums, and he looked forward to the time when the societies would again receive the full opossum revenue, a large- part of which had been devoted by societies to fish research work. The opossum industry, if it were properly looked after, would prove a valuable industry for the country. He would like to see a commission of the Government, societies, and Bird Protection Society go into the opossum industry. It was believed that opossums could be fenced, and there was every possibility of forest areas being set apart as opossum farms! Mr. Tripp said there had been some Press criticisms of the value of fish research, but his own executive, some of whose members had been doubtful, were now' convinced of its value. Troutfishing was undoubtedly an asset to the country, and when times improved the Government must help in safeguarding and improving it. Rotqrua and Taupo were under Government control, and the information being collected by its officers would prove of value to the scientists. The Government must assist on the scientific side. • Deer had been laregly reduced by the Government, between 20,000 and 30,000 having been destroyed. » In the Wellidgton district deer were under control; indeed, some farmers wished the prbtection reinstated, largely because of tho trespasser nuisance. The reduction in the number of deer was partly due to the market for skins. ; More motor-cars and guns were clearing the ducks out in some districts, but it was believed the ducks were holding their own in the Wellington district. It was regrettable that the shipment of chukkor had failed, but some released in the high country in the South, it was believed, had increased satisfactorily. RESULTS SOUGHT TOO SOON. Mr. A. McKenzie (Auckland) emphasised that when fish research was first inaugurated they were told they would get no Tesults for ten years," and it was disappointing to find bickerings after eighteen months. It had been expected they would get £1700 for research, but only some £700 had been available for its promotion, largely because the opossum revenue, the chief source on which societies had expected to draw, had been taken away from them. The Auckland Society was doing its best to establish an accessible sanctuary where a collection of native birds could be seen by the public, and was extending its sanctuaries. They had killed in their district 5400 stoats in eighteen months; that showed the extent of the menace to native birds.

The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr. L. O. H. Tripp; vice-president, Mr. C. A. Whitney; hon. treasurer, Mr. J. F. Dyer; council, Dr. G. F. V. Anson and Messrs. A. Seed (Wellington), F. E. McKeiizie (Auckland), C. H. Lawrence (North Canterbury), F. H. Stoekwell (Fending), C. A-. Wilson (Otago), T. B, Maekay (South. Canterbury), H. J. Duigan (Wanganui), J. Robertson (Southland), W. J. Parkin (Whangaroa), F. Mogridgo (Marlborough), and J. H. Edmondson (Hawkes Bay).