THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2202, 17 March 1881, Page 3

THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

[Ashburton Mail,] The Canterbury Acclimatisation Society have decided that, go iar as their district is i concerned, there shall be a close season this year for pheasants. Hr. Frankishj who is a leading light amongst the acolimatisen, gave as the reason for this action that, if they bad an open season, they would find they would not have a pheasant left. It was also resolved, on the motion of the same member, that it should be a close season for Californian quail. There is no doubt that the past breeding season has been a bad one for pheasants, and regarded from the society’s point of view it cannot be denied that their determination to have a close season for pheasants is a wise one. But we see no reason why the public of Canterbury should regard this question from tbe society’s point of view. In taking the action they have, they no doubt think that they are exercising a power which they possess, although we cannot find under what Isw they assume to themselves the autocracy of the pheasants and quail. In reality their power consists in this—that the Executive has not heretofore thought fit to ignore their representations, and that the Governor baa been advised to issue proclamations or orders in council in accordance with them. Encouraged by this favor the members of the society appear to have fallen into the error of j imagining themselves to be in the position of 1 power, and consequently they pass such preI sumptuous resolutions as this—" That no pheasants be shot at all daring the ensuing | seasons.” If the Ministers have a proper sense of their own dignity and of their duty to the colony they will, on receipt of that resolution, return it to the soclimatisers with a request that they will point out where and when the Legis ature has conferred upon an Acclimatisation Society the power to make laws for the public with re-pect to the destruction of game. It is quite clear that this society by long immunity from snubbing—however much it may have been deserved—has come to regard itself as superior to snubs, and tbe sooner it is mode to understand its right position the 1 better. Things have reached a pretty pass | when a number of irresponsible fogies, of I all ages and in all stages of imbecility, are able to get together and pass resolution materially impeding the freedom of the owners and holders of land, and are further in a position to assume that the Government of the colony will as a matter of course ud pt these resolutions, and confer upon them tne i force of law. We hope sincerely that the Ministry will not miss the opportunity now , afforded them of teaching the members of the Society their proper places. We do not say • that the advice given should be ignored, if given as advice. It may or may not be good, ' But we are very clear that the aechmati.er. should not issue their advice in the form of a 1 decree from which there is no appeal, and that the Government of the day will do a . gross wrong if it confirms any such man Onto without having first made full and particular enquiry on its own account, and obtainea B satisfactory assurance that the step proposed is required in the public interests.