THE DEER MENACE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 122, 5 March 1936, Page 7

THE DEER MENACE

DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS. NEED FOR DRASTIC ACTION. (Per Press Association.) ELTHAM, March 4. "If cur native bush disappears, God help Taranaki." With this remark. Sir Walter Carncrcss (Speaker of the Legislative Council) prefaced an address to a public meeting to-day. He was speaking on the menace to native forests of deer, whose destructive habits were killing out trees and trampling down undergrowth, which served as a natural reservoir for rain water. Sir Walter quoted statements made by members of the Legislative Council in March, 1935, when a motion urging the Government to take steps to exterminate the deer and goats was introduced by Sir R. Heaton Rhodes. In these statements specific instances of damage to farming lands by soil erosion after the deforestation or destruction of bush by animals were given. Stewart Island v. as a particularly striking example of the effect of the uncontrolled activities of Virginian deer. Dense fcrestwas now being displaced by open country, for which the deer were solely responsible. Killing operations were proceeding in the South Island, but at the present rate it could not be expected that the pest would be exterminated. Even the killing of 1000 a week would not keep pace with the natural increase.

The Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) had indicated" sympathy with the object of the meeting, said Sir Walter, and it was probable that definite steps would, be taken new that a market was assured for the skins and that hunters had some return for their outlay. It was for the Government to subsidise the industry, said the speaker. Public interest was awakening, and the full import of the menace w as being comprehended. '•A sum of €4OOO was included in last year's estimates for the work, but that is only a drop in the bucket," said Sir Walter. "A.sum of £40,000,, or even £BO,OOO, may not be sufficient to enable us to fulfil our obligations as trustees for posterity."