The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1928.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1928, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1928.

THE OPOSSUM INDUSTRY. Tun meeting of trappers convened by the Westland Acclimatisation Society last Friday night, to consider matters relating to the opossum industry should serve a useful purpose. The meeting was called with the object of supplying the Department of Internal Affairs, which has control in the matter, with a general report as to the allegations that opossums are

harmful to native bird-life and the bush. The matter has been accentuated by the activities of the New Zealand Birds Protection Society which lias been zealously endeavouring to safeguard the bird-life, and has undertaken something of a vendetta against the opossums 'as• one of the primary'-causes for the decrease in bird-life. Recently an article on the subject from Captain Sanderson, the Secretary of the -Society, was published in “Bird-Life,” but his statements were obviously wild in their allegations, and in some respects (notably the details given for poisoning methods) ill-timed. The meeting on Friday night had a good deal of first hand evidence to offer which not only discounted Mr Sanderson’s allegations, but proved them wrong, and pointed to one of the chief causes responsible for the depletion in birdlife which -all lovers of the bush and tho country have been deploring for long. It appears, however, from all the statements made, that opossum trapping has keen the means of saving the position to a great extent with regard to bird-life, and is actually a means to retrieve tho general outlook, for bird-life is now increasing notably. This is brought about by the fact that in pursuing their avocations, the opossum hunters catch hundreds of stouts and weasels each season, to say nothing of native rats. These denizens of the hush are a constant prey on the. birdlife, and they have been so numerous as to become a real menace to the birds. The stoats and weasels, strange to say, are still “protected” by the law as a natural enemy of the rabbit, but the stoats and weasels are appearing now where rabbits are non-existent, and their food supples are drawn almost entirely from the native bird-life. The fact that the trappers are able to account- for so many of the vermin is thus a very helpful factor in the protection of the bird-life, and it would appear tire Bird Protection Society should revise its views on the matter. Some interesting aspects of the subject wore opened up during the discussion. It was pointed out that birds bad disappeared where no opossums bad been. It- was possible to instance South Westland where bird-life bad decreased so notably, yet opossums bad not arrived, but weasels were in evidence. The position mentioned in regard to Australia, the natural home of the opossum, was also interesting. There, opossums and birds flourished side In side, and it was said the more opossums present in a district, the more birds were about. The particulars given on Friday night as to the habits of oiUOS.sum in being essentially nocturnal' and a ground animal when feeding did not suggest serious havoc to bird-life nesting in the trees. Pome of the native birds are also ground birds, but there are not many

of these about Vine to the earlier ravages of the vermin. Certainly the record of ground, hints caught accidentally by t!u; r trappers was not serious as possibly minimising the (juantity. Jt was pleasant to hear that of late 'bird-life was increasing, and evidence oi this was given in several cases. The opossum ha<l a good defence put u]j loir it, and seeing that the little animal must have been respoiisi do for seven or eight thousand pounds coming into the district within two or three months, the value of maintaining the industry is at once apparent It is to he hoped the agitation now going on will result in departmental consent being given to improve the breed and enable th\; opossums to spread more generally through the district for future value.

The fate of the Licensing Bill was very generally forecasted by those with a. e'lose. ikJnowledga of the feeling among the rival faction,s. All the same it is indeed a surprise to us that tit© anti-liquor organisation was not more keen to take -a 11 they could get from a House composed as at present with so many members pledged to prohibition interests. It is interesting to note that in the majority of electorates the electors declared against prohibition, yet the majorities in the House favoured tne cause. This anomaly was due to the anti-liquor organisation obtaining pledges from individuals in advance and the result has been rather disconcerting to some of the members involved who voted against their own convictions and that of the judgment of their constituency. Whether the anti-liquor forces will find candidates-, so susceptible at the next election remains to- he seen', but it seems very doubtful there will be as many “pledged” members in the House next time. The old saying of once bitten twice shy, might have effective illustration. Assuming that to- be the case, it does appear that mistaken tactics have been pursued, and what chance of advance there was more or Less important from the point of view, lias now been last. The same opportunity may' not recur sopromisingly at the shuffling of the political cards in November. Be that as it may, general relief will be felt in many quarters that the- more drastic proposals of the Bill were lost, and that in regard to the licensing poll, things will he as they were at the last poll. Similar’ procedure’ stands, with the three, issue ballot paper. The country lias been manoeuvring with the licensing question now for many years, and it is high time it was settled one wav or the other and the

utry given a rest. The issue hs cjisturbing if not upsetting to other olitical issues probably of more real general interest. It is time too those engaged in .the trade had greater security than a three yearly period affords. This country, due to its growing population and increasing visitors, needs improved hotel accommodation. The licensed house has to be depended on in the main to supply it, but until some better, security is given there is a heavy risk in facing the large outlay which would be necessary to provide the class of accommodation deemed necessary. Certainly private enterprise without'the aid of the !i----'“on.se is not attempting to provide the eteq-uirentents, and so- it must be accepted that it is essential to give the hotelkeeper a better tenure if he is to be encouraged to do the country an important publici service in providing more and hotter accommodation. r