ACCLIMATISATION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 360, 22 October 1932, Page 6

ACCLIMATISATION

ROTORUA DISTRICT MINISTER REFUSES MEASURE OF CONTROL BY LOCAL SPORTSMEN GUN CLUB REPRESENTATIONS During the recent visit to Rotorua of the Minister oi Internal Affairs (Hon. Adam Hamilton), representations were made to him by the Rotorua Rod and Gtm Ciub advocating the formation of a local board of control to admimister acciimatisation matters in conjunction with the ofScials of the Department stationed in Rotorua. It was pointed out to the Minister that under the preseiit conditions, the local license holders have no voice whatsoever in the administration of acclimatisation matters and that both by virfcue of their local knowledge and their existing organisation, they would be in a position to give valuapble advice and co-operation. Other matters in eonnection with the liberation of pheasants, the protection of deer, access to fishing waters and the liberation of trout fry were also brought under the notice of the Minister. Subsequently a reply was received from Mr. Hamilton indicating that the Department was not prepared to set up a board of control as suggested and also replying to the other points raised. Club's Proposals The Minister's reply was regarded by the club as unsatisfaetory and the following letter, setting out the case for the club's proposals, was accordingly forwarded; — "With reference to your nu-mo of the 30th ultimo, addressed to Mr. E. A. Meredith, who with 'Mr. Pepper, waited upon you recontly in Rotorua as a deputation from my Club in eonnection with acclimatisation matters in this district. I have to inform you that your communication was the subject of consideration at a meeting of my executive held recently and general dissatisfaction was expressed at your reply to our representations. "The position is intolerable from the license-holders' point of view, and it is apparent that the Department, functioning as an Acclimatisation Society, is not fully alive to the requirements of the district, and any other system of control would be preferable to the present state of affairs. Officer's Good Work "Before going into the pros ard cons of the case, I would like to make it quite clear that we have no cause for complalnt against the local officer in control — on tLe contrary we have alwrys found in him a capable, courteous and eflcient officer dcimg good werfe e lder impossrble con'l'tions. Wj do not wish to attack anyoae personally, but we are u-i againtt ihe system. "It seems clear that tlv r?vciuie derived from license;: is n--t sy nt as it should be — that is, in Ihe Itkeration of fish and gnme, but is uivertted to other channels, with tbe result that the number of fry and gaine birds liberated is out of all prorortion to revenue, and we foel judified in asking for more liberal treatment in this respect. These cheesc- ■ paring methods can liave only one result, and the goose that lays the • golden egg must die — if it is not already dead. Next season will pro- : bably show a considerable falling off ; in revenue, judging from reports to hand. I

"The Rotorua district embraces an area of over 10,000 square miles, and to quote your own figures, 287 birds were liberated last season. For the purpose of comparison, I would refer you to the efforts of our nearest neighbour — the Tauranga Acclimatisation Society — whose territory embraces one country only (089 miles. in extent). Last season this society liberated 300 birds, which makes • the Department's 287 birds over an area of 10,000 square miles loolc absurd. "The Auckland and Wellington Societies liberated about 1000 birds annually, whilst the smaller societies on the north, liberate from 300 to 500 per annum. Last season 450 were liberated in Holcianga and 550 in Mongonui. "Your memo raises the question of finance; but surely license holders are entitled to have a fair proportion of fees spent in game liberation, and we should be entitled to at least 2000 birds. The 287 birds are nothing like what we should be entitled to, nor is the number anything like what we could do if a local society had control. Trout Fry "With regard to fish, it appears that some 360,000 fry has been liberated this season, and in the Rotorua locality 2,000,000 are required annually, when you realise that one

i anglor alone took over 1100 fish last | year from these waters. It is impossible for the local officers to cope with the work under present conditions as the hatcheries are totally inadequate to.deal with fry in numbers commensurate with requirements, and until such time as the Department sees fit to provide proper facilities for rearing fry in sufficient numbers, the position must always be unsatis- ; e ■ft'vy. { "A :'c "- raany years of labour, we 1 feei that our efforts have been in wtin, and shooting at least, is rapidly beeomlng a thing of the past, but we j are not content to let matters rest' j at this stage, as we are confident that the position can be remedied with careful administration. '' "Our effort to establish a board of control, thereby giving holders some say in the. spending of their own money, having been nullified, and, as apparently we cannot expeet any improvement whilst the district is under Departmental control, we suggest as an alternative that you cdnsent to the formation of an AcI climatisation Society in this district 1 to control feathered game only, or perhaps a smaller area embracing the counties of Rotorua, Whakatane and Taupo. It is our considered opinion that a society could handle the control much more efficiently than ' the Department has done in the past, and we could not possibly be any worse off. Local Control In support of our request we respectfully submit that we are entitled to the same consideration as other communities enjoy and should have the undisputed right to have acclimatisation matters : controlled by a local society. The j present system of control is antei deluvian and a relic of the dark j ages. I "In submitting the foregoing for your earnest and favourable consideration, we hasten to assure you that we are not approaching the matter in any spirit of carping criticism, but with an earnest desire to maintain ouwreputaUon as a sporting centre. "We regret that your Department cannot see fit to agree to our proposals with regard to the Board of Control, as it seems obvious to us that the persons who fish or shoot must have some knowledge which is indispensible to a controlling authority. "We are in desperate straits, and would thank you for an early reply, as frankly, if your reply is unfavourable, we are desirous of laying our case before Parliament during the coming session. "In conclusion, we would ask you to noto the fact that we are not asking to be given control of fisheries, as we realise that this request might appear unreasonable to your Depattment for various reasons,' although if deemed advisable we are prepared to form a society and talce over control absolutoly. "We consider that we could handle the fathered game efficiently and thereby relieve the Department of a g'-eat deal of responsibility." Minister's Reply In reply to this stateme.nt, the i'oHowmg reply was received from the Minister: — "In regard to the liberatior of fry rv the district, when representatives >'" your club waited on me "n July k t, the euestion of liberating early i'ly was rai-'ed. The 150,000 of the otu lic-rt fry which were liberated on August 12 last and the 210,000 which were to be liberated later, do not re- ] resent the total liberations for the season. Particulars as to this year's liberations are not yet available, but f last year 2,486,000 fry were liber- ' ated in the Rotorua and Bay of , Pienty districts. ! "The game revenue received • from the whole of the Rotorua Acci matlsation district, amounted to i £532, and I think your club will | agree that any suggestion as to j the liberation of 2000 pheasants is j impracticable and that under no I

' system of control could such a | number be considered. ! Acclimatisation Society { | "It is noted that the suggestion is | that an Acclimatisation Society | should be constituted or perhaps a I smaller one embracing the counties 8 of Rotoi'ua, Whakatane and Taupo. I The revenue from feathered game for , the smaller area or even the whole district, would not, however, be sufficient to enable an Acclimatisation j Society adequately to administer and

j range the area. The position in regard to absolutely protected birds which are reported to be fairly numerous especially in the bush around tho lakes and which are a source of attraction, has also to be considered. ■ This Department has to maintain a staff of rangers and they combine both fish and game life. "There is no question that ranging is necessary both for the absolutely protected birds and also for game, in addition to pheasants, for which shooting seasons are declared (Californian quail, Virginian quail, j Au 'tralian quail, mallard duck, grey { duck, spoonbill duck and black swan). Your club has in the past, made representations for more ranging as regards fish and, in the case of bird life, I feel, realise the necessity for similar striet attention. The fact must also not be lost sight of that j the Government is committed to a !

payment of £6000 per annum to the natives in respect of Rotorua lakes and £3000 per annum for Taupo waters. "Taking all circumstances into consideration, it is regretted that no chang© in the system of control can be agreed to. I shall, however, be pleased at any time, to consider any representations which your club may desire to put forward as to the conditions governing the fish and game seasons." This seeond letter from the Minister was considered at a meeting of the executive of the club, held on Thuisday night. It was unanimously decided that the reply could not be consideied satisfactory, and it was decided to make further strong repi esentations for the foi'mation of an Acclimatisation Society to control the district.