OPOSSUMS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1921, Page 4

OPOSSUMS

PROTECTION TO THE ANIMALS AND TO ORCHARDISTS. REGULATIONS AGREED TO. WELLINGTON, Feb. UJ During the past session of Parliament, an amendment of the Animals’ Protection Act of 1908 was passed, making provision for the issue of regulations relative to the taking of opossums and the disposal of the skins of those animals, and in connexion therewith, the lion G. J. Anderson, Minister of Internal Affairs, directed that a conference he held of those interested, with a view of drawing up adequate regulations in order to give protection to opossums, and at the same time to enable orchardists to destroy them in orchard areas. A preliminary conference, presided over by the Minister, was held in Wellington in December last, when tentative regulations were drawn up, and it was decided that a committee lie appointed to meet in Dunedin, with a view to consulting, primarily, those interested in ‘the opossum skin industry. This committee subsequently reported to the conference which again mot yesterday, and finally a proved of the proposals. The conference consisted of Messrs Mclntosh and Tripp, as representatives of the Otago and Wellington Acclimatisation Societies; Professor Kirk, whose very valuable report on these animals was presented to Parliament last session; Mr Shelton, secretary of the Fruitgrowers’ Association; Mr Stewart, of Messrs Mooney and Co., skin importers and furriers, Dunedin; together with representatives of the Forestry, Lands, Agriculture, Customs, Police, and Internal Affairs Departments. It is proposed by the regulations to declare an open season during the month of June in the present year, and the necessary provision has been made for the issue of licenses. In order to prevent illicit trading in opossum skins, all such skins proposed to he disposed of for gain must lie sold through a licensed broker.

It is further proposed to require a royalty of one shilling on every skin sold by the broker, and registers are required to he kept containing particulars regarding opossum skins. Provision has beon made for payment to the Acclimatisation Society in whose district tho opossums were taken, such proporton of fees, fines, and royalties as may be decided by the Governor-in-Council. No person shall export opossum skins without prior consent to the Undersecretary of the Department of Internal Affairs. It was realised that thore were a number of opossum skins in. the possession of dealers and others, and in order to make provision for such skins without inflicting any hardship on the possessors, it jvill be necessary for all such persons to declare to the Undersecretary of tho Department of Internal Affairs the number of such slums, which will bo stamped by an officecr duly appointed for that purpose. j

A considerable amount of time was given to the question of authorising j oreliardists to kill or destroy opossums in orchards and in orchard areas, and it was finally decided to allow the occupier of any registered orchard, under the Orchard and Garden Diseases Act, to kill opossums, in such orchard, but as it was recognised that it would be necessary, in order to cope with opossums, to allow them to be taken in the immediate vicinity of orchards, it was decided to define orchard areas, and to permit any registerd orchardist or bona fide employee of such orchardist, to take or kill opossums in any such defined area, but such skins may only be disposed of for sale through a registered broker.

j In the case of any person desiring to retain opossum skins taken by him for ' his own use, such person must pay a ' royalty of one shilling on each skin. In receiving the report of the confer- * ence, Mr Anderson expressed his ap- ' preciation of the work done by the con--1 ference, and said he trusted that the result of the deliberations would enable j j oreliardists to protect their orchards j | against depredations by opossums, and . ! at the same time protect those animals [ ! in areas outside orchard districts, as , ' it was realised that the opossum indus- | 1 try, though yet in its infancy in this j Dominion, might in time he built up | into one of great monetary importance, r owing to the large tracts ot country in different parts of the Dominion which j were quite unsuited for s ttlement purposes. Tie hoped that the time would come when such areas would become practical fur-boa ring areas, producing large revenues lor the benefit of the Domini:)! as a whole.