THE FATE OF THE BUSH.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 282, 28 November 1929, Page 6

THE FATE OF THE BUSH.

As a general rule the most dangerous enemies that our native bush has had to face have been the axe and fire. But now that the value of timber is better understood, and the reckless slaughter of forests is everywhere condemned, we find the vestiges of the bush

gravely threatened by perils of an entirely different kind. According to a statement just issued by the Minister of Internal Affairs, deer are doing a tremendous amount of damage to all vegetation in certain districts, and since 1923, in many parts of the South Island, not only has all protection been removed, but large sums have been paid by way of bonus for their destruction. Reports of the Lands and Forestry Departments have been compiled testifying largely to the immense amount of harm done by deer to crops, pastures and bush land. At the same time, in many wooded districts wild goats have increased rapidly and are inflicting so much injury on the standing bush that, as in Egmont National Park, a war of extermination is being conducted against them. Deer and goats are barking thousands of trees, and with their sharp hoofs cut up and destroy the forest floor, thus rendering the; natural reproduction of the indigenous bush impossible, and unless vigorous steps are taken to deal with this new danger the surviving fragments of our beautiful native bush will soon be but a memory of the past.