OPOSSUM PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 55, 13 September 1928, Page 16

OPOSSUM PROBLEMS

DECREASED TAKINGS REVENUE AND ROYALTIES A decrease in the number of opossum skins taken on the areas of the Wellington Water Supply Boiinl whs shown in the report of the board's forestry officer (ill1. Pertain) dealt with at yesterday's meeting. . Having stated that bloel:s were taken last season at varying prices, from Is to 2s 7d per skin, the report says:— "Returns have been received from the rangers, which, with the exception of those from two parties unobtainable at the date of reporting, may be taken as correct, and show that, approximately 8(i40 opossums were trapped on the board's areas, royalties- amounting to a value of ,€256 14s being due. The rangers' time throughout the season was completely taken up in visiting trappers' canips, and little time was available to search for or suppress poachers. Some trappers have complained that their blocks were p>-lied out previous to the season'opening.' This is probably correct, and it is very probable that a parcel of "stale" skins seized by an officer of the State Forest Service, whilst in the hands of the brokers, came from the board's areas, but whether previous to or subsequent to the areas being handed over, it is impossible to say. Every effort will oe made to suppress poaching in the future, but with areas oE this extent, and having such extensive boundaries, it is considered impossible to entirely suppress it unless sit prohibitive cost. A further valuable cheek on the number of skins taken will bo available from the State Forest Service at a later date." '' TREMENDOUS DECREASE.'' The Government,-said Mr. O. A. Troup (the. chairman) woud get £90 out of royalties,' half of which, in his opinion, should'bo refunded, as tho Government had. done nothing for it. The position showed a tremendous decrease in the number of skins, taken, from 0000 last year. ,Tho system of calling for ten-ders-did not seem to have worked out very favourably for the board. ■ Mr. R.Semple: "What was the system before, none at all"" The Mayor said that last year it did not matter to the Gover-nment if the skins were collected in its own area or not, as they simply collected the fees, collecting 6d wherever the opossums were, taken. This year there was nothing to'prevent opossums being trapped'in other areas, and the skins being handed in as though they were trapped in Government areas. Mr. Semple thought it was impossible for the opossums themselves to have decreased so much in one year on the board's areas. The- Mayor said they must consider the question of poaching* before the season commenced. It had been said by some of their trappers that the blocks had:been skinned out when they came. The only thing the board could do in the'meantime was to receive the report, and get its forestry officer to tell it how to get full value from its forests. (Laughter.) Mr. C. D. Morpeth said that it seemed to him that tho only sound way of dealing with the position was to have the royalties paid when the skins were sold at auction. Mr. Eobertson suggested as a means of escape from fraud and poaching that the same men be given the chance of tho blocks again this year, on tho understanding that they should act as the board's honorary rangers. Mr. W. T. Strand said that the whole thing had come back to what the comniitteo had recommended in tho' first place, except that it had suggested from three to five years. Now that they had an officer he thought it would be a good thing if he took up the whole matter.- It would be an excellent thing if some understanding could bo arrived at between the forestry officer and tho others interested. Some working agreement could be come to. Mr. Somplo said that the position warranted a very close investigation. The decline might be due to poaching by outsidors, -and not to tho giving ot incorrect accounts by the men who rented tho blocks. -..'Ho had not agreed to the committee's suggestion because he did hot wish to-debar anyone taking up a block who might not be able to furnish the requisite capital, but the council's interests must be protected. WAR ON GOATS AND PIGS. Keporting upon applications for leave to shoot goats and pigs in tho Orongorongb forest's, Mr. Pcrham said that goats were probably the most destructive of all animals, and in the past had done an immense amount of damago in this forest. Consequently it was necessary to keep their number down in every way possible. Wild pigs, while they did little, if. any damage in the forest, were the cause of serious trouble on adjoining cleared land- where they rooted up the grass over large areas and were often very destructive among sheep. The simplest means of cheeking the increase and depredations of both these animals was to issue permits to approved parties to destroy them. Some' restriction was, however, necessary, to safeguard native bird life and tho opossum. This could best bo done by limiting the season for permits to a period, commencing about the-mid-dle of October and finishing about the middle of April and. prohibiting the carrying of firearms of. less calibre than .303. Tho report was adopted. In regard to tho opossum question, the forestry officer was asked to go into the whole matter.