TWO MEN CONVICTED

Lake County Mail, Issue 45, 14 April 1948, Page 6

TWO MEN CONVICTED

Fishing Without Licences

For fishing in the Southern Lakes District without necessary licences, Messrs E. W. Morton and D. C. Miller, both of Oaniaru, were fined £5 and costs by Mr A. E. Dobbie, S.M., a,t the Magistrate’s Court, Queenstown, last Friday.

The charge was brought by the Internal Affairs Department. Mr A. McMaster, ranger, said that ho had found the two men fishing at Lake Hawea. When he questioned them, one said that he thought that the Southern Lakes District was included in a licence he held for another district. The other man told of attempts he had made to secure a licence on a Sunday.

The revenue from skins, he said, would never be sufficient to complete the eradication of the pests. Generally, he said, the area under the board’s control had never been freer of rabbits, but there were forebodings as to the future control of the pest.

Mr B. E. Hopwood, county clerk, presented a report to the commission on behalf of the Lake County Council.

The report gave appropriate statistics of rating population, and finance. Illuminating figures showed the tremendous difference in costs of transporting maintenance materials into the county in comparison with neighbouring counties.

The commission also visited Skippers, Head of the Lake and Walter Peak Station, where they inspected runs.

Mr E. H. White (Otane) is chairman of the commission. The members are Messrs W. A. Scaife (Lake Wanaka), L, C. Gardiner (Christchurch), H. W. Youren (Napier), W. F. Metcalfe (Gisborne), and the Hon. E. Eddy, M.L.C. The secretary is Mr L. W. Wood.