DEER MENACE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 9, 11 July 1934, Page 19

DEER MENACE

LANDS BEING RAVAGED

"FARMERS PROVIDE FEED"

The depredations of dcci- on farm lands in certain parts of New Zealand, particularly in the South Island, was a subject upon which several speakers at yesterday afternoon's session of the executive of the Sejv Zealand Farmers' Union expressed themselves in no uncertain terms. A Southland remit was • adopted calling upon the Government to pay half the cost of erecting deerproof fencing between Crown lands and private property. Mr. McGregor, who moved the remit, said that there were farmers whose" properties bounded ■ bush, land who were suffering from the depredations of deer. It was necessary that some protection should be afforded. Mr. D. Dickie (Gore), seconding the remit, said- that the subject was one of great importance to farmers in certain districts. The deer could'not lie kept out by ordinary means. The president (Mr. W.-J. Poison, M.P.): What is a deer-proof fence? Mr! McGregor: A fenco about eight feet high. It is necessary to have a fence eight feet high, in some parts. Mr. "W. E. Matheson (Wellington): Wouldn't it be cheaper to give a royalty on their tailsMr. McGregor: I don't know that a great many people could afford to give a royalty on tails. The trouble is that the deer come down in the night and clean out the crops before you can get a smack at them. "I am satisfied that something has got to he done," said Mr. J. E. Hevie (Otago). At the present time . there were agricultural lands in New Zealand that were, being ravaged by deer coming out of forests created by the Government. When the Government took over country for afforestaijon purposes the- farmers tried everything possible to stop it on the ground that the deer ultimately would bo detrimental to the farms. At that time an, assurance-had been given by" the Hon. Sir E. Heaton "Rhodes that'the Government would exterminate the' deer; The Government had failed to do so. Something would have to be .done to overcome the, deer menace, otherwise there would be. some people who would have to evacuate their land. The Government had provided shelter for the deer, and- the farmers provided the feed.

Mr. Dickie said he knew the country Mr. Eevie had in iuind.--He thought that deer-proof fences would.be a.practical proposition in some parts.