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Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2432, 10 April 1915, Page 7

Certain correspondence has passeij between • the president of the Otapx Acclimatisation Society and the Minister of Internal Affairs on the subjecti of the slaughter, legitimate or other-i wise, of opossums. Mr. G. W. M'latosh pointed out on behalf of the Otaga Society that there was grave reason for suspicion that tho existing regulations were being evaded, and that unscrupulous trappers and traders were reaping illicit profits. Tho Minister has replied that tho present regulations are framed " with the object of protecting opossums elsewhere than in orchard areas,- and for the complete destruction of opossums within orchard areas. Breaches of these regulations, especially with regard to the Silling of opossums within protected areas, ought, he considers, to be discoverable by tho societies' rangers. The letter concludes with a reference to trapping: "As to,,authorising trapping within protected area 6 at cortain seasons," Mr. 801 l writes, "I am willing to consider this at tlie' sug. gestion of acclimatisation societies. But they must also lirst suggest to me some reasonable way of guarding against tlm shocking cruelty of thi practice, if trapping is to be carried on at the time when the young are just about to be, or are just born, 1 am definitely determined not to grant authority uuless such eafecuarda elfin be provided?" - -