OPOTIKI ROD & GUN CLUB

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 37, 27 May 1938, Page 3

OPOTIKI ROD & GUN CLUB

special meeting UNS Y MPA T HETIC AIINISTER MEMBERS ANNOYED ■ M '■*: \ .h, ' -T , , . 1 .. A special meeting of the Opotiki Red and Gun Club was held in Air J. li. Whitfield’s rooms on Wednesday night. The president, ,Mr J. A. ALcCaldon occupied the <chair, while the club’s patron, Air G. S. Aloody, was also present. The secretary, Air G. L. .Day read Jettons from "the Hon. W.; E. Parry, Alinilter of .internal Affairs, in reply to representations put forward by the club. Members wore of the opinion that the Minister had been misinformed on various points. MV Day stated that the Minister’s statement that certain fry which had been released by the cjub, were diseased was quite untrue. They had died in the pond as the result of lack of nourishment, liver which was to have been supplied, not being delivered, through no fault of the club. Members had spent seven hours in the Waioeka river .releasing fry and taking temperatures. The A 1 blister's assertion that the Waioekai River was not holding rainbcn^k'trout was, in the opinion of the Club, quite incorrect. The proposal to release brown trout would be strongly opposed, as these are the enemy of rainbow trout.

With regard to the Minister’s refusal to inform the club where birds ‘were being liberated, members felt that this was hardly fair. The opinion was expressed that the club woidd have been far better off if it had kept its own funds and released its own game. Mr Day road' a letter which lie liad drafted to be presented to the conference at Rotorua on June 5. The letter was approved by the meeting.

Air Aloody offered his property to he used for the releasing of game.

’ The club decided to hold a practice shoot in order to pick it team to take part in the competitions at‘Rotorua on June 6. Delegates to attend the conference would consist of the team chosen, in addition to other members of the c'luli. Air R. AlcTlwraith was appointed selector of the team.

Various remits were put forward to be considered at the Rotorua eonfere}%& Arrangements for the big shoot to be held later in tile year were discussed' and Alossrs G. L. Day, W. Burton, J. McCaldon and R. AlcTlwraith were appointed to draw up a programme.

Air G. Aloody’s offer to present a trophy was accepted with applause.

Air Aloody was asked to present the trophies at the conclusion- ol the shoot.

The following letters have been received by-JM.r A. G. Hultquist, AI.P., train the AlinTster of Internal Affairs, Hon. AA'. E. Parry, and forwarded to the . secretary of the Opotiki Bod and Gun Club (Air. G. L. Day).: — Protection of Hares. On the 13th. inst. you forwarded t o me * representations made by \ the Opotiki Eod and Gun Club, which included a suggestion that hares should be declared imported game on the grounds that this would greatly benefit Hunt Clubs, and would considerably assist rangers in their duties. I can quite appreciate the fact that shooters may offer the excuse that they are not out after game subject to The Animals Protection and Game Act. 1921-*22, but hares; but shags and hawks, which sportsmen are anxious to see destroyed, could also ho used as an’ ekeuso. The tendency in recent years has been to look on the hare as an animal which has to be kept down to> minimum numbers, and in several localities where there was protection it was found necessary to remove it. I am afraid that the Club does not appreciate the position when it- refers to the benefit to Hunt Clubs. If protection were imposed* on hares, any Hunt Club pursuing hares would be creating an offence, as the definition of “take or kill” and afl yefeyenccs thereto in the Act, includeti the hunting, pursuing, etc., whetliby the animal is actually taken not. AYith no protection under s ’thy> Animals Protection and 1921-22, on hares, Hunt Clubs are; not subject to- any restrictions would apply if the animals dared to be subject to the

Liberation of Fry. On the 6th. May the Minister" wrote as follows :' 1 am communicating wrlli you regarding two further suggestions put forward by the Opotiki Rod and Gun Chib—(l) . that a. grant should be made towards the cost of material only for constructing two fisli rearing ponds, and (2) as to liberations of fry in various streams, and the supply of fry for the fish rearing ponds. In regard to the first suggestion, 1 am afraid that the Club lias not advanced any reasons which could be taken as \\ basis of consideration of the request. 1 have, however, liacL inquiries made from the Department, and the information supplied to' nie is that from a can- of fry supplied to the Club a number fish were liberated but the number is,not known.. The second venture was a failure and while the pond 1 suffered .a .certain amount of damage through floods, it was evident that there • was disease and it. would have been much better had there been no liberations of the. surviving fry as the question of introducing disease in 0 ur f( ywaters. is one on which we cannot afford to take any -risks. It is reported, therefore, that it is not possible to grant.- assistance in the matter of holding •ponds for fish. A good deal of consideration has been given to the question of liberations of fry in the Waioeka., Waimana, Pakihi and TakaputHhi Streams. In the ease of the Waioeka it has been decided to liberate a large number of brown trout fry, subject to the Department being able to purchase the ova.. It is felt that as the. rainbow are not holding in this river it is necessary to liberate brown trout as a means of keeping up the stock offish. The suggestions as to liberating fry in the other streams mentioned by the Club will be considered, and while it will not he possible to liberate in each of the streams mentioned the number of fry suggested, the Department is fully seized with the great possibilities of the fishing- in the Bay of Plenty rivers, and will liberate to the extent which hatchery facilities will allow and also taking into account the various parts of the Rotorua Acclimatisation District which liavo to he catered for. Liberation of Pheasants. in a further letter to Air. Hultquist, dated 16th. May, the Minister states: You will remember that you sent to me suggestions by the Opotiki Rod and Gun Club as to areas in which pheasants should he liberated. Cue of the properties suggested was that of Air L. Walker. Mailiou Bay. and .1 am advised that this is near East Cape, and is therefore outside the boundaries of the Rotorua Acclimatisation District, and any pheasant stocking would be a matter for the Acclimatisation. Society’ controlling that district. Pheasants to the number of 200 were liberated in the Bay of Plenty in August, 1037 (alter the close of the shooting season) and another 150 from the present year’s hatching prior t () this shooting season. A further 100 birds will be sent' to the Bay of Plentv after the shooting season.

I have adopted the policy of leaving the liberation of pheasants solely in the hands of the ..Departmental officers. anu 1 certainly agree that the liberations should be done quietly, and all that 1 can say is that probably some of the birds will he released in. the-vicinity of the other properties mentioned by Air Day, hut it is not proposed to make any departure from the past practice of not disclosing details of the exact localities. There is. of course, no guarantee that the birds will stay where they are liberated. but will move to other spots, and spoilsmen generally can have no complaints in having to find iiliete the birds are. Actually, this is part of the sport.