MENACE OF WILD PIGS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 260, 30 July 1937, Page 3

MENACE OF WILD PIGS

Efforts to Reduce Numbers in North Island PAYMENT OF SUBSIDY AS TEMPORARY MEASURE Cabinet has decided to pay one shilling per head for all wild pigs destroyed in certain parts of the North Island during the next four months —■ August, September, October, November —in accordance with a scheme that has been formulated to relieve settlers in outlying districts from the ravages of these animals. In making this announcement last evening, the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. AV.-Lee Martin, said that settlers In outlying districts, particularly in portions of Taranaki, AVellington and Lower Auckland, in the early spring motiths suffered severe stock losses through the depredation of wild pigs. In order that some relief might be af-

forded, Cabinet had decided to grant a subsidy of 1/- per pig kilted in the counties of Kawhia, Otorolianga. AA'aitomo, Taumarunui. Ohura, Whaugamomonn. Stratford, Patea, AVaitotara, AVanganui, Kaitieke, AVaimarino. On representation being made by county councils, extension of the scheme would be considered. “It will be necessary for settlers to produce to the collecting officer of the Department of Agriculture the snouts and tails of the pigs killed, accompanied by a certificate indicating that they were from genuine wild pigs.” said the Minister. “Further information in regard to procedure will be given on application to the local inspector for the district.

“It is recognised that the institution of this subsidy, valuable as it will be during the next few months, does not lepresent any real solution of the wildpig menace. Therefore, while adopting the subsidy method as a temporary palliative, the Government is undertaking a full investigation of tile whole position, with a view to the adoption of some permanent method whereby elimination of the nuisance can be brought about rather than spasmodic efforts at control. The investigation is to be carried out by the Department of Internal Affairs, whose experience in dealing with the deer menace renders it particularly suitable for the formulation of permanent methods for the elimination of wild pigs, which are yearly tending to increase in numbers.”