DEER PROBLEM IN N.Z.

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 966, 8 May 1930, Page 7

DEER PROBLEM IN N.Z.

CONFERENCE FAVOURS EXTERMINATION REMOVAL OF PROTECTION Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. The 45 delegates to the conference called by the Department of Internal Affairs, and presided over by the Minister, the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, were unanimous in the opinion that there is a menace from deer in New Zealand to forest, farm and bird life, and that steps must be taken urgently to remove that menace-. It was felt that the one directing body should be the Government, in consultation with the interests represented. Much further than that the conference did not go, although suggestions were made variously for control or extermination of deer. It was agreed that if extermination was at all possible it would certainly be costly, and that the Government must be prepared to meet the cost. Opinion was divided whether the Department of Internal Affairs or the Forestry Department should have charge. Some delegates favoured a combination of the two. The Government was reminded by individual delegates that precautions must soon be taken against the increase of goats, stoats and weasels. The Minister opened the conference with a long review of the case against deer. In his conclusion he said: “Speaking quite frankly, 1 consider that the first step to deal with the situation is to remove absolutely protection on all deer, chamois and thar. I would ho agreeable to protection being reimposed for a short shooting season, under licence, to give acclimatisation societies an opportunity of obtaining revenue for further deer destruction.” The conference adopted the Minister’s suggestion, being overwhelmingly in favour of the extermination of deer. Some delegates expressed the opinion that the mere removal of protection would not result in a great slaughter of deer. They held that this would be brought about only by organising shooting parties, as was now done by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, and by employing rangers.