DESTRUCTION OF DEER

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1931, Page 8

DESTRUCTION OF DEER

OPERATIONS IN SOUTH. AN EXTENSIVE CAMPAIGN ORGANISED.

WELLINGTON, January IP. Active operations m ; being made by the Department of Internal Affairs in its efforts to deal with the deer menace. Referring to-day to what had been so far done by the officers engaged in the work, the Minister of Internal Affairs (the lion. P. A. de la Perrelle) said that in the Hawea district active operations comenced on November 10 and during the remainder of the month 146 'deer were killed and 142 .skins obtained.

The officer in charge of the work stated that taking all circumstances into consideration tin’s must be taken as a very satisfactory beginning. The men had to become accustomed to the rifles and the country and bad to get into the necessary physical condition. The weather was generally rough, with high winds and frequent snowfalls, which kept the deer in the hush. During December, the campaign was being carried out in the most remote country previously touched by cullers and others, and already it was apparent that the organisation was settling down. It was anticipated that with favourable weather it would ho possible to report a very favourable month’s work. A number of additional men had been engaged to commence work after the holidays and tbe campaign would then be carried out on more extensive lines.

Operations, said the Minister, were in progress in Stewart Island, but it was too early yet to be in a position to publish any results. Stewart Island presented a difficult proposition, but no pains would be spared in an endeavour to clear it up.