FOREST PROTECTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 134, 4 December 1944, Page 6

FOREST PROTECTION

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY'S

INTEREST

A further.reply to Mr. Leo Farming's statements in regard to damage alleged to be done to forest trees by opossum trappers has been made by Mr. D. J. Gibbs, chairman of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. The blazing of totara trees, he says, is not done by proper opossum trappers, the heavy bark making it quite unsuitable for the purpose. A few fern leaves, the white of which is very easily seen, are sometimes turned over, but this is only done to show a turn off from a leading ridge and would not amount to anything like the number used by holiday-makers to decorate their hats. "With regard to the question, 'Does Mr. Gibbs seriously infer that societies in their zeal for the protection of opossums, cut into the revenue received from the holders of fishing and shooting licences?' Yes, of course it does. The Wellington Acclimatisation Society is much superior to and its activities much wider, and it plans much further ahead, than a rod and gun club. It is the only body which protects in a practical manner the pigeon, the kaka, the tui, and other native birds. It has planted native trees (including totara) on Kapiti, and the trees have done well. It has planted many alders on the banks of streams to prevent erosion. Even during this war it was primarily responsible for stopping the felling of rata trees in the State forest at Mangakotukutuku. Last year it contributed £398 to fish research and vermin control. It will be seen therefore that the shooting and fishing revenue is not expended solely on the rearing of game birds to shoot and trout to catch, but in a much more progressive field. The opossum re-1 venue was taken .from societies by the slumß commission, and sportsmen never complained," as they expected it would be given back when New Zealand turned the corner. So the Wellington Society continues to see that the forest laws are observed, hoping that the Government in its turn will be fair and allow all societies the full revenue received from licences and fees.