Deer-poaching fines increased by $300

Press, 12 August 1980, Page 4

Deer-poaching fines increased by $300

Fines of $lOO imposed in the District Court on two professional deer hunters for poaching deer on Crown land near Arthur’s Pass have been increased to $4OO in each instance by Mr Justice Cook in the High Court. Thomas Tredolf Trevor, a helicopter pilot, and Andrew Nolan, his shooter, who worked for Mountain Helicopters, Ltd, were each fined $lOO by Judge Bisphan on a charge under the Wild Animal Control Act of hunting deer without the authority of the land owner in January 1979. During the hearing in the District Court last October Mr Nolan said that they were in “hot pursuit” of a deer when it ran onto unoccupied Crown land bordering Arthur’s Pass, where they shot it.

After Mr Nolan was con-’ victed, Mr Trevor -pleaded guilty to the charge.. The Crown appealed against the fines of $lOO on the ground that they were too lenient. Mr D. L. J. Saunders, for the Crown, said that the maximum fine at the time of the. offence had been $lOOO, but since then legislation had increased it to $2OOO, showing concern over poaching by commercial-hunting interests. Mr M. Withers, for Messrs Nolan and Trevor, said that it had been Mr Nolan’s first visit to the area and he relied totally on the pilot. They had been chasing a deer which ran into the prohibited area. Mountain Helicopters, Ltd, had since gone into voluntary liquidation. It had already ' been penalised by having to pay large legal costs and it

lost substantial revenue when its equipment was impounded. Both men had already suffered a good deal of hardship and penalty, Mr Withers said. His Honour said that he saw a big distinction between an individual hunter entering an area on foot and a helicopter which, because of its mobility and speed, was difficult to detect.- The two men had been engaged in a commercial venture and one had remarked that the deer was worth $lOOO. .. While he, noted what had been said about the company’s present position he did not think that it was a matter to be taken into account. Considering all the circumstances he was of the opinion that a fine of $4OO would be more appropriate. His Honour said.