WAR ON THE DEER.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 241, 11 October 1929, Page 5

WAR ON THE DEER.

GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION. AUCKLAND SOCIETY'S DISCUSSION. A statement by Mr. T. S. Withers to the Auckland Acclimatisation Society last evening, that the State Forest Service, in its endeavours to exterminate the deer which are alleged to have a harmful effect on timber forests and native growth, was seeking opportunity at the same time to restrict and perhaps eliminate acclimatisation societies themselves, was keenly taken up by other members. A letter from the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs asked for suggestions on the control of deer and shooting regulations for the coming season. In an earlier letter, dealing with the measures for the protection of native birds, it had been suggested that deer were a natural enemy "of bird life, as they killed undergrowth. Mr. C. M. Gordon said that if the Government obtained all the powers it desired in the campaign against deer, there would be nothing left for the society to do but fix the dates for the season and determine the number of licenses to be issued. "It seems to be war on the deer to extinction," said the chairman, Mr. F. E. McKenzie. The cause of the Government's apparently drastic action, he explained, was the size of the herds of deer in the South Island, where the animals had become a distinct menace. It was stated that the only herd of any size controlled by the Auckland Society was the Taumarunui herd. This herd had not increased during past seasons. "In view of the damage done in the South, the Government is not likely to be satisfied with anything but a castiron regulation for the whole of the Dominion/ -5 said the chairman. A sub-cominittee consisting of Messrs. H. C. Savage, G. G. Kelly and T. S. Withers was set up to nmke immediate inquiries concerning the Taumarunui herd and collect information in support of the proposal to preserve it.