THE 'POSSUM.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1916, Page 5

THE 'POSSUM.

NOT A PEST. PROTECTION URGED. (Prom Our Own Correspondent,) Wellington, May SL A plea for the protection of the dp> possum was made by a deputation whioh interviewed the Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. G. W. Russell) yesterday, on behalf of the Wellington Accliraatisation Society. Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., who fotro. duced the deputation, said that the opossum had become a valuable denizen of the New Zealand bush since it was flrrt acclimatised, and the necessity for it* protection was apparent. The skins were sought eagerly for commercial purposes, the prices ranging from 10s to 20s, and it was stated from one district in Otago 80,000 skins hid been taken. The hunting had become so persistent that the animals wenthreatened with extinction, and moreover they were being trapped in a ?ery cruel way. Many persons made a practise of setting traps on one Sunday and visiting them again on the following Sunday, with the result that the tffi>fortunate animals died miserably;from hunger and thirst in the interval. Mr. L, O. H. Tripp and other members of the deputation explained, that the opossums bred slowly, and. Were easily destroyed, so that there whs no danger of their becoming a peat like rabbits. They had not been proved guilty of damaging orchards, and they were protected in Tasmania, the orchard state of Australia. "*'The Minister promised to get a report on the subject. If he were satisfied that the opossums were not a pelt, and that they could be protected without injury to ovehardists and fanners, he would take steps to check indiscriminate destruction.