Farmers' View Of Report On Noxious Animals

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30880, 13 October 1965, Page 25

Farmers' View Of Report On Noxious Animals

The most controversial aspect of the report of the Parliamentary committee of inquiry into the noxious animals problem would be the recommendation to allow deer farming in captivity, said Mr P. C. Ensor, chairman of the South Island highcountry committee of Federated Farmers.

Fairly stringent conditions were, however, laid down, and only time would tell whether a venture could succeed In these circumstances. Should Parliament accede io this recommendation, one could only suggest that deer farming be carried out under strict licence, so that full and proper control could be exercised. said Mr Ensor. A diversity of interests presented conflicting evidence and the committee should, perhaps, be congratulated on

its statement that there should be no relaxation in the provisions of the National Parks Act, 1952, and the Noxious Animals Act, 1956. “We would like to see the recommendations for spending more money on noxious animal control in national parks extended to cover all areas, not only national parks,” he said. Mr Ensor said that other recommendations would appear to strengthen the present Acts, and the recommendations for further research were to be commended.

The problem of noxious animals was still critical, as was shown by the number shot by service hunters—just on 50,000—t0 which had to be added at least another 40,000 exported, making a total of 90,000 shot and accounted for in one season.