WESTLAND ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1924, Page 1

WESTLAND ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

.Monday, dec. Bth. A nicotine of the above was held at the County Chambers at 7.-1!) p.m. Present: Dr Teielielumlin (President), .Messrs (!. A. Perry. W. Draddon, liorendt. Cederinan mid Evans. The minutes were eotilirmed and a report made in respect to correspondence dealt with. Ai the invitation of the President. Mr Perry referred to the n'osilion regarding the disposal of sawdust as nifeeliiig the sawmilliug industry. The position in respect to Hokitika river, a declared sludge channel, was stressed specially. It was tile desire of tile sawmillers to meet- the wishes of the Society as far as possible, but if total prohibition wert> enforced, it would mean ruination to some of the mill owners. 'I lie industry was important to the town and district, and meant the circulation of L’M.I MM a year in wages. The cost to remodel the mills to deal with the sawdust would be prohibitive, I nder the circumstances the millers thought the matter was one for compromise, seeing; the industry was of sm li paramoiiui importance. They proposed that during the three months of the whitebait s-asen the millers would hold the -r.wdtist. which would he possible for a limited period, except in Hood time, and gruel ally would do tlieir best to minimise the position. Mr Perry thought in all the circumslamos the Society slmuid meet the millers with a lit *•<)•.!•':i!»! • rccn:niwm!:iti«>n to tin* (!*•’- vormiU'iit.

Mr Draddon on behalf of the Society pointed out that a large sum ol money had been spent in the endeavour to stock the rivers of the Coast. 'I lie onlv hatchery in Westland was under the Society.’ Moth from enverniiiont grants and hv local Minds, huge sums had been spent, while the members hel|a'd greatly also with honorary services to promote spui t ami oltiimile’.v to improve the li-li supply tor food. II the Duvi I nun nl wi n a bi ll In o peml I lie regulation-. it meant discounting the work which had been done, it was the opinion of the Inspector of Fisheries that the sawdust a Heeled the trout. Mr Mraddon proceeded to point out the objections to the suggested course, so tar as the interests of lishiii.tr were concerned. The President. Messrs Evans and Drendt also spoke, realising; the diflietilties of the situation. The matter was further discussed with the feeliUK that if possible the milling industry should h<* Indpod. und tin* idoM. was put I'orwnrd t«» fiivi 1 tin* uidlers' propiisal a trial for a year, and a motion was adopted on those lines. the letter to the Depart) it to set out the (lillimilties of the po-itiom U was further decided also to surest that anv future mills bring established should not he situated adjacent t" streams, unless I here were other meanof disposing of sawdust. < ? The mooting ( ouclu<h‘d :it 9 o < ha-u.