GAME AND FUR

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 90, 13 October 1932, Page 4

GAME AND FUR

SPORT -AND.PROTECTION

NEW RECOMMENDATIONS

The unsportsmanlike practice of. laying grain as bait for wildfowl, with the object of attracting them to frequent lagoons and. other waters prior to fhe opening of the shooting season, thus' making possible limit bags through the tameness 6£, the birds, was roundly condemned by speak' >ers at the annual conference of acclimatisation societies yesterday. AVifh the exception of Auckland, the delegates were unanimous that duck were .becoming less- numerous throughout New Zealand. While there were men who distributed: feed for the good of the ducks, ■ and .because they liked to sec them about, nine put of ten laid grain in order to shoot them for the pot. It was pointed out" that neither dog nor gun could bo .taken on sanctuaries, and that if all places where feed was laid for the purpose of protecting and encouraging 'ducks were declared sanctuaries, farmers might be at a disability in getting, their ordinary farm work done, as apparently any kind of dog was prohibited. The following remit was passed to be submitted to the.lnternal Affairs Department:—"That it shall- be unlawful for any person, whether the owner or occupier of any land or »not, to place on. or near the margin of any lake, water (including rivet-, stream, lake, lrigoon, pond, or swamp), any kind of grain or seed for the purpose of feeding or attracting any native1 wildfowl to any such water, unless such areas ■ have been gazetted as sanctuaries or gazetted as closed against shooting from year to year." FARMERS' LICENCES. The suggestion that all persons shooting native or imported game be required to take licences, whether shooting, on their own property or not, raised some discussion. •„./■-■■■•■'.■ Mr. C. H. Lawrence (North.Canterbury) pointed «ut that the societies- provided game and ranging for many people who did not contribute to the societies in any way.' It was true that the societies were indebted to the land owners for preserving game. Such things as the liberation of ehukkor. and pheasants cost money, and if the landowner did not contribute in some way, he was evading payment. Mr. F. Nash (Waimate) thought the suggestion dangerous. In his own district for many years the majority, if not all, of: the landowners had taken out. licences, and the society could not afford: to antagonise them. Mr. J. W. Parkin.(Whangarei) favoured a compromise by granting only. one free licence to each property. There had been difficulty in the case o£ Maori owners, Mr. F. E. McKehzie (Auckland) said that the conditions . were changing: In the Auckland district they were now liberating birds on a larger scale, and if the farmer shot these expensive birds he should t>ay. He suggested that the farmers Bhould be allowed to shoot.duck, as before,-but not partridge, .ehukkor, or other birds that cost money to provide. Mr. E/ Russell (Southland) said, that in his district no farmers took exception to people shooting on their properties, and shooters appreciated it. If the regulation were made to apply, to imported game, farmers could have no objections, but they should not be antagonised. The desirability of adjacent societies conferring to secure a uniform period for an open season for game was' agreed upon. PEGGING SHOOTING STANDS^ It-was decided that the Minister o£ Internal Affairs'be asked to favourably consider regulations for the pegging o£ duck shooting stands prior to the opening of the season in districts where there were lake. reserves and Crown lands. Mr. C. M. Gorllon' (Auckland) said that up to 1500 guns would be found on the Waikato swamp on Ist May. Formerly the Auckland .society had its own rules, but this year there were no regulations, and complaints of overcrowding were general. Alr.HcKenzie said that as things were any licende-holder'■■ -could put up; boards on ten stands, and prevent nine other people from taking them. The Auckland Society's former, rule was that one licence permitted the location o£ one stand, as long as the licence number was on it, but the Department ruled that thi,s was interference.with private property rights, and would not. allow it. Mr. C. A. Whitney (Auckland) said that last year, one rh#n had 35 stands marked up, and did;-not say which one he -vaa going to us'e;,,but ended by putting hia friends in .them. '..''•' NESTING -BLACK SWANS. Some Maoris were taking an eeling expedition on Lake Wainono, said Mr. F. Nash (Waimate), and their operations frightened away ; "a colony, of black swans nesting there. Three, quarters of this nests were abandoned; and some 300 eggs did aot hatch. The Maoris were charged with "destroying"' the nests', but the Magistrate said that the sense of the word as understood in the street must be taken, and he dismissed the case. On the suggestion o£ Mr. Russell, ifc was decided to.recommend the addition to the pertinent clause in—the Animals Protection and Game Act of the words "wilfully disturbs or permits to be dis-turbed-any-bird to which-this Act applies While the ■ bird is nesting." ! PUKEKO SEASON. After a general discussion the principle was affirmed that a short open season for pukeko in districts where, the birds were a.nuisance was ;preferable to permits to individuals to destroy. It was said that such permits were frequently the occasion of a. mere shooting party, while if one farmer secured'a permit and the other did Bot, the birds were merely frightened from one farm to another.