The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1948. INTENSIFICATION OF ANTI-OPOSSUM CAMPAIGN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22697, 23 July 1948, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1948. INTENSIFICATION OF ANTI-OPOSSUM CAMPAIGN

steps are finally taken to combat the opossum menace in the Gisborne-East Coast district, it is encouraging to learn through the meeting of the Catchment Board that a party of experts of the wild life control division of the Department of Internal Affairs will he here next week to make investigations and conduct experiments. Quite understandably, the hoard decided that it could not sponsor the department’s suggestion that poison capsules containing potassium cyanide should he used. Potassium cyanide is a deadly poison often featured as the weapon of offence adopted by the villains of the piece in mystery thrillers. Farmers and others on this part of the East Coast will agree that opossums are villains who deserve to have the tables turned on themselves—if this can he done without risk to other parties. But unless the department’s officers prove.that this form of poisoning can he adopted without risk to any living thing other than the opossums, the Catchment Board’s attitude of caution will merit sympathy. Although a wholesale "killer” policy would be welcome and is, in truth, necessary—the proposal that a repellent should he used for preventing damage to trees would he a satisfying early step in the right direction. As one member remarked, a good, deal of public money is being spent in growing "opossum fodder. About two years ago some people were advocating a reduction in the vote for the destruction of wild-life pests. .Fortunately the Minister of Internal Affairs was able to announce in reply that the Government had no intention of reducing provision for killing even when reduced returns were recorded. Obviously it would not be a good policy to slacken the national effort when. the number of pests were lessened; the organisation should remain on active service until they are eradicated. Tn any case, it is a hitter truth that there is no lessening of the opossums on the East (.oast; the reverse is the general experience. Complete extermination should be the aim because, until somethin!'' approaching this stage is reached, it is likely that New Zealand will have to meet ever-mounting charges in preventing the soil erosion through which she is constantly losing so much of her agricultural and pastoral lands. This applies not only to opossums, which double up on their nefarious efforts by destroying the trees that arc meant to remedy some features of soil erosion, hut also 1o deer, rabbits and, in areas like the ranges of South Canterbury, to wallabies- The opossums live largely on forest, plantation and orchard growth and arc increasing at an amazing rate which almost rivals that of the rabbits. They arc reported to be also eaters ot birds’ c"gs, which doubtless accounts to some extent for the depletion of our native birds and the retarding of forest regeneration The latest operations of the wild life control experts point to an encouraging awareness that New Zealand, has had sumcicn experience of this pest to justify a complete scientific examination of its habits and of the destruction it causes. What is wanted is a co-ordinated policy with plenty of drive and killer instinct behind it The trouble is so menacing that departmental assurances that poison could he safely used would indeed he gratifying.