ACCLIMATISATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2289, 5 December 1891, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION.

CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES. A conference of delegates from South Canterbury Acclimatisation Societies was held in Mr A. M, Clark’s office yesterday afternoon. Present—Messrs A. M. Clark, F. Dignan, and Dr J. S. Hayes (Geraldine County Acclimatisation Society), F. Archer and A. Perry (S.C, Society), and W. Crisp (Ashburton Society). Messrs Outten and Velvin came at a late stage of the proceedings, and apologised for tardy attendance on business grounds. Mr Robt. Pinckney, Secretary of the Geraldine County Society, was also present. On the motion of Mr Archer, Mr A. M. Clark was voted to the chair, and at his request the secretary read the following letter from the Marine Department, which the delegates were met to consider Marine Department, Wellington, 20th November, 1891. Sir, —The question of the acclimatisation of fresh water fishes and their protection having been considered by the Government, I have been directed by the Minister having charge of this Department to draw your attention to the inconvenience caused by the suh-division of the original societies. It would appear to be desirable that, instead of their being as at present some eight societies on the east coast of the South Island, the number should be considerably reduced, and I am to suggest that a conference of the societies should be held at some central place—say Timaru or. Oamaru,. to consider the question; the Government will be- prepared to pay the railway fares of two delegates from each society to such place The plan of amalgamation that is, submitted for consideration is that there should be a certain number of societies, having local committees, with a central committee meeting say two or three times a year; that all general questions should be decided by the central committee, and that the local committees should attend to mere local matters, the funds to be managed by the central committee on the following plan.-—l. To pay all expenses in connection with fish hatching. 2. To provide for the stocking of rivers at present unstocked in the back country or away from the centres of population. 3. All fry not used for such a purpose to be divided rateahly between the various branches. 4. The balance of the funds to be rateably divided between the various committees for fish protection purposes. Of course these proposals are only tentative, and are thrown out as a suggestion as to the way the societies can amalgamate. The Minister would be glad to have an expression of your opinion on the desirability of such a conference, and whether your society would send delegates thereto, and, if so what would appear to be a convenient time to hold it. —I have, &c., Lewis H. B. Wilson, Assistant Secretary. The Hon. Sec,, Geraldine Acclimatisation Society. He also read the resolution of the local society, where it was decided to invite the attendance of representatives from Ashburton and Timaru, and also a report which appeared in the Christchurch Press of the proceedings of the Canterbury Society. Mr Crisp remarked upon this report that it appeared the Canterbury Society were the movers in the matter, and that they only contemplated the formation of two central societies—one at Christchurch and the other at Dunedin. In that case the intervening country districts would be very poorly represented. Mr" Perry spoke very adversely upon the proposal of the Marine Department. Formerly, when there only existed the Canterbury Society, literally nothing was done in the way of acclimatisation except in the north. Mr Crisp concurred, and showed that the Provincial Government had granted some £2OOO for acclimatisation purposes out of which South Canterbury had scarcely received anything. In the course of a conversational discussion which followed it was pointed out that in all probability under the proposed arrangement no funds would be available for opening the mouths of rivers, for stocking up with game, and probably very little for the protection of fish. Ultimately, after considerable discussion, it was proposed by Mr Crisp, and seconded by Mr Perry—“ That inasmuch as in the opinion of the delegates present acclimatisation matters can be more | satisfactorily managed under the present system of local societies, it is inadvisable to return to the old and unsatisfactory

system ot having matters managed by a central body, who cannot be expected to have the same knowledge and interest as local bodies, and that the holding of a conference as proposed in the letter from the Marine Department of November 20th, is not likely to'produce any good result.” The above resolution was ■ carried unanimously. It was also resolved on the motion of Mr Perry, seconded by Dr. Hayes—“ That it be a recomendation to the government that a uniform date be fixed by statute for the opening and closing of the fishing and shooting seasons in the South Island.” This concluded the business, and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the delegates, for their attendance, and to the chair.