ACCLIMATISATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 221, 18 September 1929, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION.

» THE DOMINION CONFERENCE. THE MENACE OF DEER. SHOULD BE KILLED OFF. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! WELLINGTON, this day. There was a Tecord attendance at the eighteenth, conference of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Society, which opened to-day, Mr. I. 11. Tripp presided. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, showing a credit of £228 13/4, the chairman said that in the protection of native birds and game the societies were up against stoats, weasels, cats and hedgehogs. Trapping in the society's reserves had been considered, but it was resolved that it would be wasto of time, as vermin were so numerous. In the year before last 31,000 rats ' and 2500 stoats and other vermin had been caught in Wellington districts, and this year a record would be established in some districts. Native birds were on the increase, and this been due to trapping. Mr. Tripp spoke of culling operations by the Wellington Society, which should keep deer in check. Deer had not been introduced by tthe society. Taking off protection was no way to cure the deer problem. The only way was to employ men to kill them off systematically. Inquiries showed that opossums did no damage to forests, birds, or bird foods, as they took berries from the ground. The election of officers resulted:—President, Mr. L. O. H. Tripp (Wellington); vice-president, Mr. C. A. Whitney (Auckland) ; treasurer, Mr. J. F. Dyer (Wellington) ; council, Messrs F. E. McKenzio (Auckland), F. H. Stockwel (Feilding), F. J. Dargaville (Hobson), Col. J. Hume (Nelson), C. H. Lawrence (North Canterbury), C. A, Wilson (Otago), T. R. Mackay (South Canterbury), J. Gilkison (Southland), J. A. McKenzie (Tauranga), H. J. Duigan (Wanganui), E. J. C. Wiffin (Wellington), J. S. Fleming (Wellington).