DESTRUCTION BY DEER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 81, 5 April 1923, Page 5

DESTRUCTION BY DEER.

REPORTS CONTRADICTED. A .SPORTSMAN'S AGITATION. \ (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. In anticipation of the conference of Acclimatisation Societies and forest service officers on the subject of the dcstructiveness of deer, which will be held here on April 11, Mr. Dascent, secretary to the Wellington Acclimatisation Socictv. contests the suggestion that deer are responsible for heavy damage to crops, lie quotes a case where a farmer persistently complained of the destruction of his rape crop. Careful inquiry showed it bad never been, touched by deer. "This agitation." says Mr. Dascent. "was prompted by someone, and an excellent shot, who wished to have permission to freely range among herds with a gun. Ear more damage i- done to forests by cattle which arc allowed to run there. Crazing permits are given |to farmers by the Government to allow i their cattle to graze in lores, reserves. mid I believe for every deer in a large I reserve near Wellington there arc two I head of cuttle. There are cattle tracks HO miles in length, and those heavy creatures do ten times unite damage than deer do. to say not •line of iii.d pie.,. I admit that in the South Island deer have done damage to crops on occasions, hut in this district the damage done is mostly imaginary." .Mr. Dascent states that since November HOOO deer have been destroyed in Wellington and Marlborough districts. :He asks if deer do so much damage, j what are the forestry rangers thinking ] about? They exist to protect the forests. "I have never heard." he continued, l "of the Forestry Department applying I for n permit for any of its rangers to I shoot down these animals, which are i supposed to be tloing so much damage to frees. I have never heard of them even shooting down any of the destructive wild cattle or 'Captain Conkers.' Why should we have to go in thfl expense of doing the work thai the forestry rangers should perform as an ordinary protective itiosisiueV"