KILLING OPOSSUMS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1810, 24 July 1913, Page 3

KILLING OPOSSUMS

PROTECTION URGED,

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY TAKES ACTION. The question of the protection of opossums, which has attracted some considerable attention during the last few months, was considered at the annual conference of Acclimatisation Societies yesterday.

The president (Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp) referred to the matter at length 111 his opening speech. The question, lie said, was one of the most important with which they had to ileal, and strong representations must be made to the Government as soon as possible. The Tasmaiiian black opossum had been introduced into the Kiverton district, Southland, in IBOS, and the grey opossum later. Other portions of the Dominion had received opossums later, a large number of the black variety being liberated at Paraparattmu, Wellington, for instance. The .object in introducing the animal was tj provide in the future a valuable trade in skins. Undoubtedly a large industry could be developed, giving employment to many persons. The animals had therefore been rigorously protected. This was the situation up till when the great natural' increase in the opossums led some people to think that they might possibly become a pest, like rabbits. Various people communicated with Ihe Government, which in turn communicated with the Australian Governments, and after some negotiations, the protection was removed. The allegation against the opossum was that lie destroyed fruit and cabbages. It was true that ho was partial to these things, but he could easily be prevented from doing much damage, li people were allowed to kill opossums in their own orchards they could easily protect their fruit. It was indiscriminate killing which they wished to prevent. The fur of the opossum was valuable, and the animal should not be killed out. The society had already made representations to the Government, suggesting a scheme of licensing the killing of opossums. When a certain agitation had been got up in the south for the removal of the protection, it had been suggested that some of the "prime movers" in it were people who had already been killing illegally, and who were in possession of skin's of which they wished to dispose. The Government had gazetted the removal of tlie protection. within <i receiving a deputation from the society opposing it. He thought the society should have had the evidence which. had been placed before the Government. The opossum should not have been condemned unheard. The evidence before the association was that 110 damage had been done in Otago, and but a little in Nelson. The Minister, in reply' to recent representations, had asked the association to define protection areas, and to consult tlie Government fruit inspectors. The fruit experts had given evidence that orchardists could easily rid themselves of opossums by poisoning or trapping whore it was necessary. The Fruit-growers' Conference, to bo held shortly in Wellington, would, he understood, support the association. There was no reason why the opossum industry and the fruit industry should not flourish side by side. It was estimated that from bush land, which was otherwise quite unproductive, there could be taken every year 40 opossums per acre. As the dressed skins were worth from 15s. to 18s. each, this was a very handsome return from otherwise Worthless land. (Applause.)

Various Remits. There were several remits on the order paper dealing with the question. 111. Ct. W. M'lntosh: (Otago) moved:— ■'That the Government be urged to reinstate protection on opossums, providing for an open season during three months in each year, viz., May, June, and July, or subject to the recommendation of the local society. That a license fee 'of ,£1 or upwards, to include trapping and, or, shooting, bo imposed by regulation, such liceiiso to be issued by the local society and the fees paid to same. Further, provision to bo made that all skins taken during open senson, must be sold within 30 days after the close of the season as above, and anyone found in possession of opossums (exclusive of pets) or their skins in undressed condition thereafter and during the remaining closed period shall be yable to penalties to be embodied in the regulations." Other remits were as follow:—"That the conference be urged to continue its elforts to have restrictions imposed limiting the _ taking of opossums to certain months in each year at such license fee or royalty as the conferencc may think fit" (Southland); and "that the oloso se:» son for opossums bo for nine months Hi the year, the open season being for thres winter months" (Grey aud district;.

What Delegates Had to Say. Mr; M'lntosh 'stated that his society had received a great deal of support from many bodies, including the Chamber of Commerce and Farmers' Union, in this matter. It had been estimated that in one year GO,OOO opossums had been taken out of the Catlius district, Otago, and about 14,000 skills had been exported, a largo proportion being wrongfully declared as rabbit- and cat-skins. The matter was most urgent, as the industry gave promise of being a most important one. They did not ask for protection in districts like Nelson, where the opossums might do damage in orchards. They were assured by experts that the little ani,mals were very easily poisoned or'trapped, and if it were necessary to cle-tr a district, it could bo dono very simply. The period of 30 days proposed for the preparation of skins after the close, of tlie open season was ample. The conference should make the strongest possible representations to the Government, and urge the great importance of the matter. Mr. E. Russell (Southland) said that in his-district they had never received a complaint of damage done by opossums. One farmer had asked to be allowed to kill the opossums on his property, but as soon as he had provided himself with a very,fine rug, he ceased to kill them. (Laughter.) Mr. G. M. Thomson, M.P. (Otago), 'stated that he had previously supported the removal of the protection of opossums, but. he had since found that ho was mistaken. (Hear, hear.) He would give his hearty support tq the motion. Mr. L. H. B. .Wilson (Wellington) said that the opossums fed on purely waste products—on useless bush. Their skins were worth more than sheepskins, and they cost nothing to feed. Mr. L. Hanlon (Whangarei) said that he had been instructed by his society to oppose the remit, bat after hearing the evidence adduced by previous speakers, he would withdraw his opposition. (Applause.) The remits were unanimously adopted.