WILD LIFE CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 69, 18 September 1930, Page 10

WILD LIFE CONTROL

THIS WEEK'S CONFERENCE

AUCKLAND APPRECIATION

"There will be held at Wellington this ireek a eonferenoe, attended by representatives of the Departments o£ Lands, Agriculture, Forestry, and Internal AfEairs, to consider the control of wild life in New Zealand," says the "New Zealand Herald" in an appreciation. "A settled and uniform policy is very desirable, but before it can be achieved differences of opinion will have to be settled. To protect native birds absolutely, to protect game birds and beasts, and to wage war on undoubted pests are the three lines of policy naturally suggesting themselves Few will question the desirability of doing all possible to conserve and where possible encourage the breeding of native birds. Those who have laboured long in this cause have been powerfully reinforced lately by the Forestry Department, which has been emphatic in proclaiming the virtues of these beautiful but too often defenceless creatures as protectors of the native forest and as agents in the process of regeneration. The observance of) close seasons for most kinds of game is also generally accepted as desirable. Here it is only a question of ways and means.

"The point where discussion and agreement are most necessary is where there is a question whether a bird or animal deserves protection^ as harmless or useful, or merits extinction as a pest. The Foresh-y Department denounces deer as an undoubted pest, and from some people interested in forests are heard charges against the oposaum. The deer have also been defended as less malignant than alleged, while the opossum is championed

an asset of great economic worth. The same kind of argument arises in other inst. nees. The pukeko has been attacked and defended; so has the shag, and even the kea, Stoats and weasels were supposed to wage war on the rabbit. They now have to answer a serious indictment because of their depredations among the native birds, and there is a growing demand to have them declared vermin. These instances prove that there is need to have the whole question of wild life systematically considered, so that controversies may be settled if possible, and the best policy to pursue determined. It would have been an excellent thing for New Zealand if a conference of the kind 1 be held had met more than half a century ago to consider what creatures could safely be introduced into this countiy, and what species should be absolutely debarred. It is too late to waste regret over the omissions of the past. It is better that the present and the future should be considered as this conference will endeavour to do." GOOD RESULTS EXPECTED. "The conference that is to be held shortly in Wellington between the Lands, Forestry, Agriculture, and Internal Affairs Departments, to consider the control of wild life in the' Dominion, should produce good results," says the "Auckland Star." "It is a belated effort to frame a common policy, but better late than never. In recent discussions on the subject it has been pointed out that control of wild life is vested in several Departments, and it has been contended that this responsibility should be centralised. Be that as it may, it is time that the Departments conferred to eliminate conflict of interest and agree upon a policy in regard to questions in dispute. New Zealand presents a terrible example of the effects of unwise acclimatisation and destruction. We have introduced birds and animals that should never have been admitted, and we have complacently ■watched the thinning out of native birds. The policy has left us with many problems, regarding some of which opinions differ. The establishment of vested interests has complicated issues. Rabbits, deer, stoats, and weasels, opossums, native and imported birds —ail these raise questions o£ economic and scientific interest. The conference should arrive at definite conclusions, and the Government should act upon them."