DEER MENACE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21685, 20 January 1936, Page 6

DEER MENACE

SOUTH WESTLAND BUSH THREATENED IMMEDIATE ACTION SOUGHT [From Oca Own Hepohikh.J HOKITIKA, January 18. That there was an urgent, Necessity, realised by only a few people, for a more intensive campaign to exterminate deer in South Westland was claimed by a deputation which approached . the Minister for Public Works (the Hon, R. Semple) at Kokatahi this afternoon and asked him to make representations to the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) to do his utmost to eliminate the deer, menace. “I have no hesitation in saying that Mr Parry will approve a campaign for the extermina-. tion of deer,” said Mr Semple. The ■ views of the deputation were given by Mr M. Wallace, who said he did not think any member of the Cabinet realised how serious was the menace. Even those in the Internal Affairs Department who were closely associated with the matter did not reahse it. He could say definitely that w..m the gold and timber resources were exhausted the only assets left in Westland would be thi farms and scenic®resorts, but they would be seri-. ously threatened if the deer were not exterminated. The value of farming, an £ resorts couW only be maintained if the mountain .slopes were not damaged by erosion through the deer eating the bush. The damage done alu® a( ? y c ?uld be seen by going into the bush. It now was possible to walk With ease where some years ago it was possible only to crawl. Heavy rain* nearly a year ago had shown the danthe destruckush.. The matter is one vita! importance to Westland people.” Wa i la u ce ' The Internal Affairs crfi?pr S pu i out a number of cullers, but this action is futile. The only possible hope is to provide a subJaunty, say, five shillings a 1° tracks to the lack and build shelters there. There are tens of thousands, even millions of deer up in the back country, and something must be done urgently to exterminate them.” K uy Semple said he knew something of the menace of deer. Governments of the past were.to blame for the presituation. It was not so long ago £2O if they shot deer. The present Government was not going to allow deer to destroy the assets of this nr danger. He would suggest r« e should bring down proposals to the Cabinet to cope with the menace immediately,, *