Say sought on game management

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 59, 25 July 1974, Page 1

Say sought on game management

Taupo anglers want a more direct say in acclimatisation management at national level. This was made clear at the weekend when Lake Taupo sportsmen discussed with Internal Affairs officers moves to re-organise acclimatisation societies. The sportsmen' s attitude was shared by the controller of wildlife, Dr G. R. Williams. Voicing a personal opinion, Dr Williams said he would like to see the Rotorua and Taupo sportsmen's federations have more say at national levels. A remit before the Federation of Lake Taupo Angling, Shooting and Boating Clubs' conference sought details from Internal Affairs on proposals to introduce a new system of wildlife conservancies. The federation expressed concern that it had not been consulted on the move and sought an outline on the effect of the proposals on the Taupo fishery. It also sought disclosure of the financial and management proposals, particularly the disposal of revenue from Taupo licence fees. The federation president, Mr O. S. Hintz, said the matter was one of the most important to come before the conference. The proposals to give the acclimatisation societies autonomy had only been learned about by accident. He asked where did the Rotorua and Taupo federations come into the scheme of things? The federations were in a peculiar situation in that Internal Affairs acted as an

a I £ Suiuc ctapcv»is ui mc nuiixi report," said Mr Hintz. The big area of doubt was the proposal to introduce a national fishing licence. Where would the Taupo licence funds be dispersed? asked Mr Hintz. Of the $90,000 taken last year, $40,000 was given by law to the Tuwharetoa Trust Board. Were some of the smailer acclimatisation districts looking to Taupo as a source of funds? Would the Taupo fishery be entitled to a say in management? These were points that had to be gone into in great detail, said Mr Hintz. Dr Williams said the scheme affected only acclimatisation societies. Under the plan the number of societies — 23 — would be reduced to approximately half in a move to make more national use of funds and staff. There had been nothing secretive about the plans. The federations had not been informed because there was no real involvement of the Government districts. The only issue that affected the federations was the national fishing and shooting licence move. Dr Williams said he agreed the move would be affected by special problems in the Taupo district. Initially, therefore, the district would remain outside the scheme until ways were found to bring it in. Dr Williams assured the conference there was no thought of subsidising

11V^ UlUUglU IJL1CII U11V JLWVtW&C*-||| tion for Rotorua and Taupo would be preferable to two separate bodies, as at present. "I would also like the federations to have more say at national level than they have," he said. The past president of the Rotorua Fishing and Shooting Federation, Mr D. P. Ellery, said his organisation welcomed the fresh look at game management and believed this to be the threshold of a national wildlife organisation. "We can only hope and pray that Taupo and Rotorua are included in the national scheme," he said. "Then we can have one central body responsible — not piecemeal administration as at present. "We would like to see Internal Affairs grow and we grow as well and have a voice in the policy making of conservation." Dr Williams described the move to consolidate the societies as "a big step in the right direction." He intended to make the scheme more protective so that there would be something to hand on to, our children. He assured the delegates that their voice was already relayed directly to the policy makers. Mr Hintz, however, said that unless Taupo anglers had a direct say in management optimum results would not be achieved. It would be a good thing if the proposal could be widened to include the Internal Affairs' districts — but only on a basis of mutual aCceptability.