DEER PRESERVE SUGGESTED

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31946, 25 March 1969, Page 7

DEER PRESERVE SUGGESTED

The Mendip Hills area near Parnassus in North Canterbury would make an ideal deer shooters’ preserve, according to Mr H. C. Warren, of Bexley. Mr Warren, a life member of the Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, said he had been concerned for some time at the effects of shooters on New Zealand bird life. What was needed, he said, was an area set aside exclusively for deer shooters. The Mendip Hills area, which

was hilly but not too steep, would be ideal, Mr Warren said.

The policy seemed to be that most of the deer should be culled but that a few should be left, said Mr Warren.

As an old deer shooter he was aware of the needs of this group, Mr Warren said. He thought that a properly fenced deer preserve would be the answer and that the Mendip Hills area would be an ideal place as there were already deer, pig and fish in some profusion there. Overseas visitors coming to New Zealand for shooting would be able to go to such a place. Mr Warren said that the recent proposals by the Heathcote County Council before the Special Town and Country Planning Appeal Board to reclaim areas of waste land round the Estuary should include a space for a sanctuary. This could be handed over to the Forest and Bird Protection Society and a New Zealand wildlife environment created.

Mr Warren said he had been concerned for a number of years at the Injuries Inflicted in the Christchurch area upon birds. Mr Warren said he bad written to the Acclimatisation Society offering his services as a warden but these had been declined.

The New Brighton police did their best, Mr Warren said, but he was worried by the approach of the duckshooting season. He felt there should be no shooting allowed in the Christchurch area.