RAVAGES BY DEER

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 175, 12 April 1923, Page 5

RAVAGES BY DEER

DAMAGE TO FORESTS AND CROPS

“A GROWING MENACE”

A conference of delegates from acclimatisation societies and of representatives of various Government Departments was held yesterday to consider the best means *of cdping with the increase in the number of deer and preventing damage by them.to forests and crops. The conference was presided over by the Hon. W. D. Stewart (Minister of Internal Affairs). There were present: Mr. A. O. Pillbrow) (Ashburton and North Canterbury). Mr. B. E. Durrant (Feilding and district), Mr. AV. Pollard (Marlborough). Colonel Hume (Nelson), Messrs. G. W. Mclntosh and R. Hanning (Otago), Mr. W. Cobeldrop (Tourist Department, Rotorua). Mr. G. I. Moffat (Southland), Mt». W. Sumpter (Waitaki), Mr. C. I. Dasent (Waimaiino), Mr. H. V. Duigan (Wanganui), Messrs. L. 0. H. Tripp and E. J. C. Wiffen (Wellington), Air. A; Seed (representing the New Zealand Forestry League), Messrs. Ewen, D. McLaren, and James Begg (Board of Agriculture). There were also present the following departmental officers: —Dr. Reakes. Messrs. F. S. Pope, L. Mclntosh Ellis, A. N. Perham, F. Brook. J. Hislop, G. P. Newtown, and F. Moorhouse.

The Minister said that the Government desired to ascertain the views and experiences of the members present upon the • increasing number o> deer in the Dominion, the ravages committed by them,-and the best methods of coping with a growing menace; Tim problem had been growing in intensity for some years, and was affecting various interests. The first to be affected were the farmers of certain districts, whose complaints to the Department about the ravages of deer had been on the increase of late! There were those with experience in the problem who maintained that the accounts of the depredations of deer were somewhat exaggerated. Whether that was so or no®, there was sufficient cause for alarm, requiring urgent steps being taken to deal with the question.* Acclimatisation societies throughout New Zealand had spent considerable sums of money in culling deer and otherwise dealing -with them. A report from the Otago- Society showed that over £15(10 had been snent within the last year or two in culling out 3000 head of deer Hie position of the Otago .Society, so far as he understood it, was. tha + while it recognised the necessity of removing protection from large areas it was anxious that one particular herd of Scotch deer in the Hawoa district should be preserved. Assuming that protection was removed in specified areas remote from settlement, there would still remain the question of getting rid of deer ni areas' not protected. He understood that the Defence Department would be prepared to supply aipniunition at cost price under proper restrictions. The main feature of the policy which would have to.be pursued was the removal of protection, in view of the- very strong feeling both in Parliament and amongst settlers an.d the public. The Government was anxious to protect the interests of the Tourist Department and acclimatisation societies, so far as that could be done. There were many herds in thp Dominion that it was not worth while trying to preserve. Skilled men were necessary if the reduction of the herds was to be carried out satisfactorily. Mr. L. Mclntosh Ellis, Director of State Forests, in emphasising the damage, done toUorests. stated that his Department regarded deer as a byproduct of the forests, and was of the opinion that they should be allowed to exist in reasonable numbers. If the deer were .not brought down to reasonable numbers, the result woiiljJ be serious so far as the regeneration of- forests was concerned. The Forestry Department had no control over deer in State forests, and unless something were done to solve the question his Department might just as well be cut out altogether. A general discussion took place, the representatives of acclimatisation societies being practically unanimous on tho point that the protection of deer should not be lifted. They considered also that th extent of the damage done by deer in State forests had been greatly exhggerated. It was asserted that deer were a benefit, in so far as they destroyed various kinds of noxious Mr. ,G. W. Mclntosh (OUago) said that it should be left to each society to define and recommend areas within its district in which it was thought desirable that protection should bo removed. with authority to issue permits without fee to approved persons to shoot deer within those areas. Some members maintained that the greatest damage to forests was done by cattle and wild pipes. Mr. J. Begg (Board of Agriculture. South Island) was of opinion'that the interests of agriculture must come before sport or the interests of acclimatisation societies. He did, not think a general removal of protection would salve the problem. Deer should be outlawed in settled districts, and protection removed in those parts,, but retained in high country.

Mr. F. Moorhouse (Conservator of Fish and Game) stated his opinion that .the only effective way of reduffing the numbers of tho deer was ,to poison them with toxa.

Further discussion led to the. following' resolution being unanimously adopted:—“That it be left to each acclimatisation society, in consultation with the- Department of Internal Affairs and the Agricultural and Forestry Department, to define such areas wherein it is desirable that protection should be removed, and take- such other measures as may be. deemed necessary for effectively dealing with the deer question, and that no deer be liberated without the consent of the Minister of Internal Affairs.” The Minister, in declaring the conference closed, stated that he would submit the recommendations to- Cabinet for favourable consideration.