DEER MENACE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1930, Page 2

DEER MENACE

NUMBERS AND DAMAGE

SPORTSMAN IN WESTLAND

CHRISTCHURCH, April 19,

After five weeks’ deer-stalking in Westland, Lord Latymer has returned to Christchurch convinced that the number of deer in this district and the damage they do to forests have been both exaggerated. “There is not a particularly large number of deer on the Coast, and the damage they do to the bush is negligible,” he told a reporter rtf “The Press.” Togethpr with Lady Latymer, he has been stalking in the region of tho Landsborough river. He describes it ns ‘magnificent snort.” and hopes to return to New Zealand to continue bis expeditions. From this trip he brought home seven heads, the best that were fo he had, although not of outstanding onalitv. Lord Lntvmer calls absurd the statement that the size of herds has a marked effect on the quality of the heads,

In the districts which lie has- seen there is no “deer menace,” nor is there likely to be for many years. “Deer don’t go well with farming,” he said, “and it is quite necessary that in farming districts they should be culled I3ut in the forests that I have iseen they are doing little, damage. The herds are frequently found three or four thousand feet up, above the belts of forest and bush.”

Speaking of the New Zealand Tourist League’s suggestion that since there were now some 2,000,000 deer in the Dominion, open shooting should be allowed in all areas as an attraction to tourists. Lord Latymer said that in the first place it would be impossible tp estimate the number of deer in this way, and that, secondly, few tourists would face the hazards of such a trip as he had undertaken.

This is Lord Latymer’s first visit to New Zealand, which lie finds “a most delectable country.” Previously he has done most of his deer-stalking in Scotland, whetre he makes his home. The conditions in Scotland are very Afferent he said, for there one could return after a day’s sport to a good bed and good dinner. In Westland one had to put up with all the rigours of camping.

Before coming to the south, Lord Lntymcr spent a week fishing on the Tqngnriro, where he found fair sport for so early in the season. He hopes to return to New Zealand later, nlthono-v, the “Infernal Labour Government’s” taxes and super-taxes now amount to more than half his income, and may make future tours difficult.