OPOSSUM DESTRUCTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 20, 2 November 1943, Page 3

OPOSSUM DESTRUCTION

BOUNTY DESIRED FARMERS ALARMED i I In the Opotiki district and other parts of the Bay of Plenty the opossum is gradually working down out of the bush and wherever this little animal goes it leaves a trail of de,- 1 struction, particularly in orchards. Farmers of the Gisborne district are so alarmed over the destructive habits of the opossum and the increase in their numbers; that the Cook County Council last week decided to make a second approach to the Internal Affairs: Department with a view to securing the removal of all restrictions, on the destruction of opossums, together with the payment of a bounty to encourage their slaughter. This decision followed the reading of a reply from the Under-Sec-retary of the department to a previous letter from the council which advocated similar measures. In the East Coast acclimatisation district, the department's letter stated, opossums could be taken all the year round by occupiers of property or bona fide employees, provided they first obtained a permit from the secretary of the East Coast Acclimatisation Socicty in Gisborne. No fee was payable for the permit, which must be issued by the secretary, provided he was satisfied that the facts, in the application were correct. Once issued, a permit was good until specifically revoked. Provisions regarding payment of royalty and trappers' statements remained. Mr M. T. B. iial 1 considered that the facilities at present available, as outlined, in the letter,, were not sufficient. No permits should be necessary and every encouragement be given to secure the destruction of the opossums. Mr F. S. Brown expressed the opinion lhat the present provisions were necessary. Farmers in some areas had a similar problem with boats, but he knew of no farmers ■who had been refused ammunition to shoot them. Mr P. D. Tomblcson said that in some instances property owners did not want to secure permits, but killed the. opossums whenever they saw them. The previous suggestion made by the council that a bounty should be provided should be repeated, for unless some incentive was given for their destruction there would not be a sufficient reduction in the numbers. The council agreed to make a request for the removal of all protection and the granting of a bounty.