OPEN SEASON FOR GAME

Southland Times, Issue 24870, 9 October 1942, Page 5

OPEN SEASON FOR GAME

Proposal For Next Year An attempt is to be made to obtain an open season for game throughout New Zealand beginning on the first Saturday of May of next year and lasting for a fortnight. The matter is to be discussed at a meeting on October 23 called by the North Island Council of Acclimatization Societies. This was reported at a meeting of the council of the Southland Acclimatization Society last night. Mr James Robertson, who attended a meeting of South Island societies in Christchurch as a delegate of the Southland Society, reported that the meeting had rejected that the fee for the proposed season should be 30/-, and he doubted whether an open season would be granted unless this fee was agreed to. A telegram from the secretary of the South Island Council of Acclimatization Societies stated that the North Island Council had advised that it was calling a meeting on October 23 about a game season and desired that the South Island should be represented. The sole matter for discussion was, “That societies, through the North Island and South Island councils, favour a fortnight’s open season beginning on the first Saturday in May with a uniform licence fee of 30/-, and that 5/- a licence fee be devoted to vermin control. Further, that the executive co-operate with the Minister of Internal Affairs in an endeavour to arrange with the Minister of Supply for a limited amount of shotgun ammunition (commensurate with war need) to be made available to each purchaser of a licence in order that wild life control and vermin destruction may be financed during the period of the war.” SOUTHLAND REQUEST It was reported that at a special meeting of the council of the Southland society the society’s delegate to the meeting in Christchurch was instructed to support the proposal for an open season, provided it included three week-ends and also provided that 50 cartridges vfere made available to each licence holder. Mr Robertson said that the Christchurch meeting had supported a suggestion that a South Island vermin control board should be set up and that to finance the board a levy of 5/- should be added to game licence fees. The meeting also decided to support the proposal for an open season provided the licence fees were the same as at present, plus 5/-. Mr Robertson added that he had then moved that a licence fee of 30/- should be agreed to if that were necessary to get an open season. The Marlborough and Westland delegates supported this, but the North Canterbury delegates said definitely that rather than agree to a fee of 30/-, his society would do without an open season. The Otago, South Canterbury and Lakes societies also opposed the motion and it was not carried. The main objection seemed to be against the South Island being dominated by the North Island. “I am doubtful whether we will get a shooting season unless we agree to a 30/- licence,” Mr Robertson added.