DEER MENACE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20104, 6 December 1930, Page 18

DEER MENACE.

DESTRUCTION CAMPAIGN. MINISTER'S INSTRUCTIONS. (press ASSOCIATION- telegram.) WELLINGTON", December 5. A complete campaign lias been inaugurated by the Department of Internal Affairs' to cope with the deer menace. The Minister, the Hon. de la Perrelle, gave an qutlino of tko scheme mapped out for Stewart Island. Mr de la Perrellc said the material ordered from England to deal with Virginian deer on Stewart Island was not poison. It was a special class of gun and ammunition. "The use of poison for deer destruction," said the Minister, "has never been contemplated by tho Department. All that is necessary in regard to the ammunition supplied by the Defence Department ia to file the points of tho bullets and a- mushroom effect is obtained. Private persons who, malting a living from deer destruction are using military ammunition imported from England, and by filing obtain satisfactory results. "I cannot agree with the criticism passed that the destruction of does should be the main object in view. I have given instructions that all doer sighted arc to be shot. This is the policy that will be carried out. This is a very different proposition from culling, where the good heads are left, but the money voted by Parliament is for deer destruction, irrespective of whether they have good or deformed heads. The main idea is to reduce tho damage deer are causing. Ido not think that in such a beautiful spot as Stewart Island anyone would be sorry to learn that the last deer had been destroyed. This is probably not possible, but every effort will be made in that direction." Mr do la Perrellc added that the rifles to be used by tho official parties were .303, and that tho guns to be used to deal with Virginian deer would be of 12 bore, with ball ammunition. The shooting of the latter will bo at close range, as Virginian, deer are bush dwellers.