TO KILL THE DEER

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 108, 9 May 1930, Page 11

TO KILL THE DEER

SOCIETIES' POLICY

PROTECTION FOR MOOSE

RESULT OF CONFERENCE

A number of highly important suggestions for coping with tho doer menace were made by Mr. L. O. H. Tripp, president of tho Associated Acclimatisation Societies of New Zealand, at the doer conference in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Mr. Tripp said deer were first introduced into the Nelson district in 1851, and again in 1861, being sent to tho Provincial Government by Lord Petre. In 1862 some red deer were presented to Governor Weld by the Prince Consort, and these were turned out in tho Wairarapa in the North Island. In 1871 the Otago Society, which had then been formed, introduced some Scotch red deer. In 1897 the North Canterbury Society introduced some deer .from AVarnham Park, in England. These were turned out in the Rakaia Gorge. Tho Government introduced the moose in 1900, wapiti and Virginian deer in 1905, the chamois in 1905, and thar in 1907.

NEVER REALISED WOULD BECOME A PEST.

Immediately after the introduction of the deer, the Government in I'SUI passed an Act absolutely protecting 'drier, and it was not until 1882 in the Nelson district and ISB6 in the Wellington district that any red deer wore allowed to bo shot. It must be admitted that the Government and member? of the acclimatisation societies, when those societies were formed, never realised that the deer might ever become a pest. The deer for many years occupied the bush and scrub country in the North and South Islands, and it was not until they had increased enormously in numbers that anyone realised their number. For some years the Wellington Society had been waging war on tho deer, and he believed to-day they had them practically in check, in most parts of:our district, and if they continued killing as they "had been doing, they would very shortly have them absolutely in check. They had been very much assisted by the farmers, who had killed thousands on their properties. In Southland in the last five years 12,747 deer had been killed and 2000' had been killed during the last twelve months. In Otago in tho last few years 16,080 had been killed, and 709* during the last few months, and they had entered into a contract to kill 1000 for' the next year. In tho. Waitaki district in two years 'they had killed 3884. Tho Wesfjand Society last year killed 1500, and had let t. contract to kill a thousand this season. Ashburton killed 2000 in the last five years, and 500 during the last year. ■ In some districts the Government" has been paying a royalty on the deer killed. The question they had to decide was what was the best thing to be done to keep tho deer in check, in those districts whero they were not under control, and exterminate them in ffiose districts where they should be oxter-1 minated. He for many years was a keen stalker, but ho believed that the sport should 'be encouraged only so long as by eincouraging tho sport they were not doing damage' to property, or tho country. The only way to get rid of deer was to . get good shots, to go out and shoot them, as . indiscriminate- shooting did little good, and meant more cruelty.

SEVEN SUOrOrESTIONS.

He made the following suggestions:— 1: That protection on chamois and tlvar should be removed.

2: That protection on all deer should be removed throughout the Dominion: Protection to be reimposed in selected areas for, a period of not more than two months each year to allow of shooting season under licence with no restrictions as to number of points or sex, on the understanding that acclimatisation societies will continue to co-operate, with the Internal Affairs and the Forestry -Departments, and render financial and other assistance towards the reduction of the number of deer in their districts. And that the farmers have the right to shoot on their own properties at any time. 3: That the practice of removing protection and reimposing for a short shooting season should be continued until the number of deer are reduced sufficiently to consider setting aside suitable areas where protection could be reimposed, and the areas retained as stalking grounds, with the onus of keeping the deer within reasonable numbers on acclimatisation societies.

' 4: That the fullest possible publicity should be given to the removal of protection and to the marketing of hides, and also advice given to persons who desire to undertake deer destruction.

5: That the possibility, of marketing venison and other deer product should be investigated.

C: That acclimatisation societies should co-operate with property owners where required and render assistance in deciding on persons fit and proper to enter properties for the purpose of destroying deer. 7: That protection on moose and wapiti should remain for the present, but that shooting seasons should be declared each, year with the largest number of licences available consistent with the circumstances, and no limit |as to the number or sex of animals which may bo shot under a licence.

LEFT TO THE MINISTER.

■ Mr. F. R. Hutehinson (Canterbury Philosophical Institute) said that as far as sport was concerned he was prejudiced. He could not understand the killing of animals merely to preserve their heads. The destruction of the deer must b"e carried out in a systemat:. manner.

Mr. G. C. Thomson expressed the view that the control of deer destruction should bo in the hands of the Forestry Department.

Mr. J. Gilkison said they should aim at the ideal of exterminating the red deer in the forests of Southland. He thought, in view of the discussion that had taken place, that the matter might now be well left to the chairman and the Departmental heads. . :

Mr. Eustace Russell expressed the opinion . that the conference would mark, an epoch. He-urged that the goats should not be overlooked.

Mr. Johannes Andersen said that Kapiti Island had been overrun with goats and wild sheep. There wore no goats there now, and the sheep were also nearly exterminated.

Tho. Minister said they had not yet found a solution of the difficulty, but he thought they could leave the matter to him to go into with his Department an.l tho Forestry. Department. He ■ believed that as a result of tho conference they had received information that would assist in bringing about a solu-

In moving a vote of thanks to the Minister for presiding, Mr. Tripp expressed the view that there had been too much destructive criticism of the acclimatisation societies.