FALLACIES

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20098, 29 November 1930, Page 14

FALLACIES

Harold Lightbaxd.J

.si-cii.i,LT yes. tee passe

T!io first question is, Hoy- many deer are there? Many computations have been put forward, based, like the cat and rat farm proposition, on the "laws of Nature." For example, a few months ago while in the Rotorua district J called upon a, very capable officer whose special duties brought him closely into t*.aeh with what is now popularly described, and with justification, as the ! "Deer Menace." In the course of conversation I asked for information as to the number of Red Deer ranging in his pretty extensive area, and the reply, without any hesitation at all, was "millions." In my youthful poaching days, when the Nelson Red j Deer herd was the largest in the Dominion, I have seen from 50 to 60 deer (stags, hinds, and fawns) at sunrise on a sunny slope, which I estimate comprised the population of a considerable area of the district; and this estimate is endorsed by experienced cullers and stalkers with whom I have made contact. No one claims to have seen more than that number under the most favourable conditions. Only this week it was reported that a party engaged by the State Forest Service at Hanmer had killed 127 deer, and reported that only six seen had escaped, and no doubt this party, comprised of experienced cullers, to obtain thio result, has covered a large area of deer-infested country. Before the present crusade against this pest was inaugurated extensive and well-organised culling by the Acclimatisation Societies, as well as by the State Forest Service, had been carried out for several years, and 3 doubt if the total killed in any one year has exceeded 20,000. The total number of sheep in this country is approximately 29,000,000, sheep being pastured on practically all land which will support them, right back to the mountains and nearly to the snov; line. Very few deer are to be seer until one reaches the high back countrj and bush, which is bounded by eternai snow country, so that it is extremelj liard to conceive that to every 2S sheep in the Dominion there is one deer. Let us, therefore, compute the number of deer at a maximum of 500,000, or one to every 58 sheep, and then expect rebuke for exaggeration. As the resuli of a conference representing every possible interest ir the problem, held in Christcliurch somt months ago, the Government, removec all protection from deer of all species as well as from thar and chamois, si that pubjeet only to right of entn upon privately-owned land any persoi

XV—THAT THE UNEMPL O y t COULD BE FED ON VENJSoif

a partial remedy of the problem. With millions deer wallowing -to their ft 1 * meadow-like pastures,, rifles and ammunition, t T ». free Government service csST*' perly equipped GovenuW ?'* lodges, why not select all -tl bodied men (say, under 35 age) and put them throtu* ,*5L' test—from Cathedral Governor's Bay, via back? A few lessons in hanj? 8 " rifle, and the job is.donel-S 81 rations of succulent venison & employed arid their * hides prepared by boots made by unemployed boT" atives, and all surplus horns, etc., converted , selling on the open maAet You have bad it, .or much less rosy,, in yorc corner columns. But what ; are: the fS work of culling (or,mo« aecnS stroymg) deer.calfcfor qnali&J can only be acquired, by long ml experience.. There mngt of the toughest > fibre,-abfc 2 the hunter over weary going long after he is "done'ia?knowledge of -the habits Wy! of the timid animalha s«ks(7 near enough to kill; a which will resist the efeefe ing in wet places, probably : blankets; the digestion ! ability to handle and properly : the chief implement of Lb , ! rifle; as well as sonnd j distance, and such a sure MjJ, [ eye that' rarely is a second earta ; required. These are a "fnr o! r qualities that go to make ap aneiii i deer culler, though there are« s others —a philosophic tempef, a | ' otherwise unbearable cordites i® t endured; a reasonable tempet^ r which a two or three months' euf i [ easily become a miniature li;t ' sideration for and ciwperslisn i camp mates, and ; o^."ft tij ! pretty hard, I should. say,,to jfe ! dozen teams under this' specify : from an average cromTafcfyigA l Well-intentioned but- iHs city people visualise enonnaiß«i good meat, and contend tea t should be available at : ton prices. To those lan 1 reliable information that iknin , cost of venison delivere44!i|j > works under average fawjatf tance and general eoaflijißjrjjj i about 2s - per 4V _1 : : ; : ;' - •■- ■■