Hunting in the high country

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33452, 6 February 1974, Page 10

Hunting in the high country

Sir, —I am concerned about the article by A. S. D. Evans which appeared in your columns on January 11. Is it correct that, as Mr Evans says, the Lands and Survey Department and Lands Settlement Board are really allowing this to happen? If this is so, it is high time they accounted for their actions. I think a public inquiry should be called to look into this matter and, in particular, to determine whether there is any suggestion that these “free grants” and “subsidies” have been used for a purpose other than that for which they were intended. The photographs that accompanied Mr Evans’s article showed plainly the type of country that these safari hunting companies must be using. Surely there must be some Government department that should be charged with the responsibility of looking after the country better than that. I would ask the Minister concerned to comment on Mr Evans’s article and to look into how these “free grants” and “subsidies” are being used.—Yours, etc., TAXPAYER. January 15, 1974. [The Minister of Lands (Mr Faulkner) replies: “The Land Settlement Board will be meeting representatives of the Federated Mountain Clubs so that problems concerning safari operations and access on high country can be discussed. A special caucus committee of the Government is investigating this matter.”]