DEER DAMAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 107, 9 May 1938, Page 8

DEER DAMAGE

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l would be much obliged if you would publish a few 1 lines In answer to "Kaitaipi's" letter of May 5. In the first place I thought I made it clear that one had to leave the beaten tracks to see the damage that deer are doing to the forest. With all due respect to "Kaitaipi's" tramping capabilities, I venture to say that she seldom if ever leaves the beaten tracks, and probably if she did, would not realise the damage that deer are doing. In the second place, if she looks at her map, she will see that the upper reaches of all the rivers which I mentioned are State forest, and it is an offence to cut a green tree or even light a fire in these localities; so why blame the settlers? "Kaitaipi" also questions my estimate of the number of deer in the bush country between Kaitoke and the Manawatu Gorge. I still maintain that 600,000 is low. I would also like to draw attention to a recent conviction of three young men for hunting in State forest without a permit. I would like to say that these hunters do a vast amount of good, and, instead of being prosecuted, should be encouraged.—l am, etc., D. J. McKENZIE.