ROYALTY ON OPOSSUM SKINS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 8, 4 October 1927, Page 10

ROYALTY ON OPOSSUM SKINS

» — (To the Editor). Sir,—l have read accounts of the big cheques some opossum trappers make some). Yes they are few and far between. They do not advertise the poor trippcr who gets wet nearly every day and not much else. As a trapper I can sav they earn their cheques as fairly as anyone. ' Still the Government must take a toll of them. Some time ago one M.P. tried fo get the. royalty reduced from one shilling to sixpence, but no such luck for the poor trapper. It is only the poor hardup hardworking working fellows who take on the trapping in the roughest and wildest parts of the country to try and make a few shillings for themselves Still they must bo taxed. Why is there not a royaltv on labbitskins and calfskins, etc. If some M.P. would put as much energy into having the royalty reduced as Air. Sidey has put into Daylight Saving they would do some good for the trapper. As for Daylight Saving the opossum trapper is out every minute it is daylight and often working for hours after dark. He has no comforts while trapping, has to live in shacks and tents and often sleeps cold and has to wear wet clothes, so I will say again the trapper earns all ho gets without the Government taking a toll of it. Trusting this will meet the eye of someone who can help us. Thanking you for y - our valuable space.—l am, etc., .4 TRAPPER. Eketahuna, September 29.