THE MASTERTON FISH PONDS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8444, 17 May 1907, Page 5

THE MASTERTON FISH PONDS.

Speaking at the annual meeting of members of the Wellington Acclimatization Society, Mr J. G. Smithj said the Masterton Fish Ponds had. been eating practically the whole of. the revenue of the Society for some years past. During the last 12 years £8,284 had been spent on the ponds,, and the receipts for the same period amounted to £3,345, leaving a deficiency of £4,938, not accounting for the odd shillings. Mr Wilson: What about the stock? Mr Smith: Your stock is deceased. He quoted figures to show that more ova could have, been purchased from the Government at much lesser cost. The Government charged £250 per million ova. Last year the Society had distributed 291,000 ova at a cost of £992. If they made that sum £I,OOO they could have distributed by purchasing from the Government no less than 4,000,000 ova. Mr A. P. Lowe traversed Mr Smith's statements. He quoted figures to show that if account were taken of the fish liberated each year it would ,be found that the working had resulted in a credit of £1,139. Dr. Cahill agreed with Mr Smith,, who, he said, had made out a very strong indictment against the Masterton Ponds. Mr L. G. Reid, who has been; treasurer of the Society for 21 years,. said the expenditure on the Masterton ponds had been mounting up for a very long time. When the Society tuok over control the expenditure would be greatly reduced; and it should remembered that it was only recently that the Governent had been able to turn out ova in such large quantities. Mr J. G. Smith moved: "That a committee, consisting of Messrs L. G. Reid, A. F. Lowe, Dr. Ross, and the mover, be set up to go into the question of—(1) The advisability of closing the Masterton Fish Ponds; (2) the establishment of fish ponds close to Wellington City upon a site to be chosen by them on the Hutt railway line; and (3) that a special meeting of the council be called to receive such report." This was seconded by Dr. Cahill and carried without discussion. On the motion of Mr Lowe, it was argeed that direct control of the ponds from Wellington was desirable, and that the new council should be requested to assume such control.—Post.