STRATFORD ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 25, 30 June 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

At tlie annual meeting of the StratI ford Acclimatisation Society on Friday, ! the president (Mr. W. P. Kirkwood) I presiding, the annual report (as published in the "News" on Wednesday) was [adopted. The president, speaking to his motion for the adoption of the repprt said the Society had done as much as it could with the funds available. It was reported that pheasants were scarce in the clear country, though large numbers were reported from the bush. There was no better district in the colony for sport, and quail this season had been in excellent condition and large in numbers. Touching on the matter contained in the report, he said that in regard to poaching, the Society had been shackled in the past by lack of funds, and if they could not pay a ranger they would have to cease operations. As to the poaching in the Mount Egmont reserve, he thought the Government should be urged to take steps to stop poaching in sanctuaries, the Mount Egmont one especially. There lad been some discussion regarding the endorsing of licenses. The local Society did not desire to withdraw the courtesy, but if other societies did' not extend the courtesy lie thought the local Society should cease to do so. During the past season the Society paid for 243 pairs of hawks' and shags' feet. It was reported that wild cats were fairly common in the district, and when sportsmen saw any thev would be doing a great kindness if they killed them. The Society had decided njot to any more rainbow trout, and the coming year's ova would be brown trout. Taking it all round, lie thought they could claim to have a good sporting district, both for fishing and shooting. Mr. W. J. Morrison, seconder, ventured the opinion that an aeroplane would be needed by sportsmen wishing to do any shooting in the back country, where the birds were supposed to be so numerous. ELECTION OP OFFICERS. The following officers were elected: President, Mr. W. P. Kirkwood; vicepresidents, Messrs. A. YV. Budge and W. J. Morrison; treasurer, Mr. A. W. Budge; council, Messrs. (1. D. Hunter, L. Riera, J. R. L. Stanford, 11. Campbell. W. R. Davies, T. A. W. Nicholson, C. E. S'eabright, C. B. Walsh and 0. Vaughan; country committee. Messrs. McLeod, Stockley, Brewer, Smith, J. Funnell, and ,T. Oliphant. - THE CONFERENCE. The President was elected delegate to the Conference. The Hobson Acclimatisation Societv wrote asking that the local Societv should support the suggestion that country societies should he represented at the annual conference by one of their own members and not by a member of a city society. In the past, the interests of the country societies had suffered by their being represented at the annual conference bv members of city societies. It was decided to forward the following remits to the conference:— That the use of automatic guns be made illegal. That attempts to repeal the law relating to pollution of streams be resisted. —ln moving this, Mr. Stanford said that it was the flaxmillers who desired to repeal tyie law and if were given their way it would be the end of trout fishing. That each Societv have the discretion of saying what native game should be shot each season. That the Government be urged to take drastic steps to protect game in the sanctuaries. That the Government be asked to give assistance in payment for rangers for outlying districts. _ It was decided to support the following remits forwarded by sister societies: "That each society send only one delegate to the annual conference;" "that the issue of Dominion licenses is a danger^to sport;"—anil to oppose this one.- "That the fixing of an open or close season be left to the various societies." In reference to the sug?estion "That the affiliation fee to the New Zealand Association be three guineas instead of two," the delegate was empowered to exercise his discretion. OTHER MATTERS. The secretary of the Marine Department wrote that the first batch of 50,000 trout ova had been desnn+ihed. On the motion of Mr. Morrison, it was decided to have a report presented to the next meeting of the council on the cost of the ram in the Oentle Annie stream, and as to its probable efficiency. The mover doubted whether there would be a sufficient fall of water to work the ram, which had been mentioned in the annual report of the Council.