KILLING DEER

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22491, 27 August 1938, Page 18

KILLING DEER

Department's Work

Praised

ACTION WITH RUNHOLDERS

URGED

fFrom Our Parliamentary Repc -ter.l

WELLINGTON, August 26.

The suggestion that 'if ~the : Internal Affairs Department succeeded in killing out deer in the high country statues, might, be erected by grateful runholders to the Minister for Internal Affairs, (the Hon.. W.. E. Parry) was made by Mr T. D. Burnett, (National, Temuka), during the consideration of the Estimates in the House of Representat- es to-day. Members discussed at some length an item of £ 13,000 for deer-culling and agreed that .the amount was being well spent. Mr J. Hargest (National, Awarua) introduced the subject by saying that the department was doing excellent work. He felt, however, that better results might be obtained by paying a royalty on deer tails, which would encourage individual hunters. Some country was not suitable for culling in the present way. In the West Coast sounds and on Stewart Island, for instance, results had been poor. Mr K. J. Holyoake (National, Motueka) said that the destruction done by deer was a vital national question. Practically every big river in the South Island was giving trouble, which was traceable to the deforestation of the mountains by deer.

"If the expenditure of £13,000 was doubled it would be still worth while," he said. "A few thousands spent in this way saves hundreds of thousands of pounds' worth of destruction of bridges and rich riv.er flats." Mr ■ Burnett complimented the Minister on the work being done and suggested that the department might attempt to organise the runholders in some localities to assist with the destruction of deer. Mackenzie Country Experience

''ln. the Mackenzie Country,", he said, '.'we have found it possible about September, when the deer are at their weakest after some months of isnow, to herd them into gullies and kill - them in masses. If the Minister could organise similar 'drives in co-operation with ,the runholders, and kill out the deer from the high country, he would go down in history as the man who solved the deer The day may yet come when ; grateful runholders will erect statues, to the Minister in those high-country valleys." Another aspect of the problem, said Mr Burnett, was that deer, thar. and chamois were destroying in alpine regions the unique flora that was so strong an attraction to the tourist. •

In reply Mr Parry said that tho payment of a royalty was once tried, but had proved to be a failure. The method at present used by the cullers was originated by the men who were doing the job and had proved to be very succcessiul. In 1931, for instance, 8900 deer were,; destroyed,' and for the year 1937-38 the total was 20,47.5. The grand total, which mcludedr • goats, pigs, wapiti, and other animals, was more than 39,000. There was no question about the effectiveness of the campaign. '•lt has been found that we must have an army of men to make killing effective," said Mr Parry. "The men also* must be used to the work, and know how to deal with the bush, and know something of the habits of the animals they are pursuing. I have the greatest admiration for the men doing the job, because it is one of the hardest jobs I know. They deserve to be well paid. We can never hope to exterminate deer altogether, but we can reduce their numbers to a point at which, they will do little or no damage." Mr Parry concluded by saying that he had received many letters from sheepowners, testifying to the effectiveness of the campaign and congratulating the department on its work.