DEER IN THE FORESTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 May 1930, Page 8

DEER IN THE FORESTS

OTAGO FARMERS’ VIEWS.

Iflie question of the deer menace was discussed recently at a meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. A resolution was carried expressing the opinion that protection should bo iemoved from all classes of deer, including moose and wapiti. The matter arose through a letter from the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, asking for tho views' of the union on the question of keeping deer in check and tne preservation of native birds and flora. Mr F. Waite, M.P., moved that the union reaffirm its previously expressed opinion that all protection should be withdrawn from every class of deer, including moose and wapiti. In his opinion, he added, a recommendation should be added to the motion that every effort be made to exterminate all species of deer. He moved in that direction. ' . The motion was -carried, special emphasis being placed on the need foi speedy extermination. Mr J. D. Revie, the president, referred to the ravages of deer in forestry areas and said that the time was not far distant when the deer would be a real menace to farmers with land that was contiguous to forest reserves. A WORD FOR THE DEER. Arguments in favour of the existence of deer in New Zealand forests arb contained in a letter received by the Hawke’s Bay Aclimatisation Society from Mr 11. Simmons, of Hastings.

“One could say that the , deer are doing more good than harm,” stated Mr Simmons. “Th’ey are cleaning up the floor of the forests and keeping the bush open; by doing so they are keeping it safe from fire. I can well remember the foreSts before there were any deer about this country, when the undergrowth was so thick that it was not possible to crawl through it. In a dry season, if a match were put to it, half the green bush would burn. Now the deer have cleaned out all the rubbish and it could not be burned. Why kill the goose that lays the golden egg? The deer have made tracks where once it took hours of hard walking to get through. If you want to preserve your bush, keep the floor clean; you will have it forever if you keep the axe out of it.” Mr Simmons scorned the suggestion that the deer ate native trees, and declared that the animals ate only the soft undergrowth. Tho letter will be handed to-t the society’s delegate to the conference which is to be held in Christchurch next month to discussion the question of deer in New Zealand forests.