FISH RESEARCH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 693, 20 November 1933, Page 7

FISH RESEARCH

CENTRAL COMMITTEE MAY HAYE TO CLOSE DOWN. SHORTAGE OF FUNDS. Wellington, Friday. There appears to be a possibility that unless some acclimatisation societies contribute more gener-ously towards fresh-water fish research, the Central Fresh-water Research Committee, which is short of funds, may have to cease operations. At a meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society last night a letter was received from the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies' Association stating that the matter of finance had been diseussed by the Central Fresh-water Research Committee held at Christchurch, when the opinion was expressed that some societies did not show a proper appreciation- of the importance to anglers -of the work being done. It was felt by societies who were generously supporting the work that, in view of the benefit to the whole Dominion, all societies should contribute. As an acclim.atisa.tion body the writers felt a duty to those who came after them, and that the work should be continued. Without more support from the societies, however, the end was in sight. The work had reached a stage where if operations. ceased much valuable work would be lost, and the ground hard to recover. The support of the Wellington Society was sought. As far as the Wellington Society was concerned, said the chairman (Dr. G. F. V. Anson) it had budgeted for a contribution to the central research committee to the amount of some £75, and a definite percentage of both fishing and opossum revenue had been voted towards that end. It would be rememb-ered that the Wel-

lington Society had carri-ed the bulk of the work on its own shoulder s for several years, until the work became self-supporting. Opossum revenue had not been received for a period, and it would be necessary to ascertain the amount of opossum revenue al-locat-e.d the society fr-oni the last trapping season befor,e estimating the .amount available for the above purpose. Mr. A. Seed: The research. com,mittee is getting very short of funds? — Yes. The chairman. As I understand the position they can carry on our work during the whole of this year for certain, but unless more money is promised its programme will have to be modified. There appeared to be some uncertainty as to what other societies were giving. The secretary said that it was obligatory on the Wellington Society to pay the amount it had voted. After further discussion the matter was referred to the finance committee.