DEER CONTROL POLICY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29070, 5 December 1959, Page 15

DEER CONTROL POLICY

Minister’s Reply To Criticism

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 4. The Minister of Forests (Mr Tirikatene) today replied to criticism of his recent statement on deer by Mr L. G. Sayer, president of the Horowhenua branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association. Earlier, Mr Tirikatene said that “either the deer go and we stay or we go and the deer stay.” Mr Sayer was reported to have described this as a “theatrical and not a realistic statement.” “In many places, this is just what' has happened in the past and what is still happening,” Mr Tirikatene said today. “I have, for instance, had the strongest representation from the Haast settlers because of this very thing. “Government hunting itself was started to relieve the pressure of deer feeding on highcountry sheep grazing. Some high-country graziers were driven off their properties. “This problem proved well beyond the capabilities of private hunting because of its magnitude, though private hunters certainly assisted greatly in the foothill country. “I have been over much country since being Minister of Forests, and have seen for myself a great deal of factual evidence of severe damage in areas that have never been closed to deerstalkers. “As far as Kaingaroa forest is concerned, it is not possible to allow free access to hunt in it. There are many millions of pounds now at stake in this forest. “Mr Sayer says that danger from fire is ‘small with members of the association.’ I cannot hold f myself responsible for any danger at all. Moreover, there are now hundreds of workers throughout the forest, both by night and by day. “I have allowed some shooting parties in under strict control, but it is not possible by this method alone to cope with the very extensive deer problem in the Kaingaroa forest.”