DEER MENACE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21448, 13 April 1935, Page 24

DEER MENACE

* DAMAGE AT ARTHUR'S PASS BOARD SEEKS HELP FROM GOVERNMENT The Government is to be asked to destroy the herds of deer, chamois, and goats in Arthur's Pass National Park. This decision was reached on the suggestion 0 f Sir R. Heaton Rhodes at the annual meeting of the Arthur's Pass National Park Board held in Christchurch yesterday. The subject was introduced in the annual report, which referred to 14 licenses that had been granted last year to men wishing to shoot the deer, chamois, and goats. Mr Roy Twyneham said that the spread of deer was a danger to the park. Their numbers should be reduced immediately. Professor R. Speight said that the Waimakariri River Trust had driven a large number of deer from the watershed of the Waimakariri and it was possible that those deer had been noticed by Mr Twyneham. It was reported to the meeting that deer at the head of the Hokitika river ■were increasing and were eating the forest growth. Combined with the flood damage and general erosion the menace to the territory was serious. Extensive Culling- Elsewhere Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, in moving that the Government be asked to take action, said that he did not think that the board should charge for shooting licenses. The general destruction of the pests should be encouraged. Most of the culling and killing of the herds had been done in southern districts. Captain Yerex, of the Internal Affairs Department, had 25 men in Southland, and there were also a dozen men operating in the Tararuas. The damage being done to bush was appalling. The Government was paying for skins and the market was a fairly good one. Mr Twyneham seconded the motion. Mr G. G. Loukwood said that competent stalkers did good service in the eastern valleys, where, in the vjcinity of the Bealey, some excellent heads had been secured. The motion was carried unanimously, j ■