MENACE OF DEER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 91, 15 March 1935, Page 6

MENACE OF DEER.

The brief debate in the Legislative Council on a motion advocating active steps for ridding the country of pests which are destructive to the natural forests should serve the excellent purpose of making the public conscious of the serious national loss that will continue unless a determined effort is made to save the native bush. It is well for the people to note the remarks of Sir Heaton Rhodes, who admitted responsibility both privately and in the capacity as a former Minister of the Crown for the introduction of deer from England and chamois from Austria. His association with the motion, which he submitted in the absence of Sir Francis Bell, and his emphasis on the destruction to the floors of the forests caused by these animals over a wide area, lend weight to liis call to protect our “glorious heritage.” Other memßers of the Council gave their unanimous support to the motion, Hon. J. A. Hanan stressing the “national duty to perform in ridding the country of destructive pests. The conditions revealed,” he added, “are such that no lover of this country can remain a cold spectator.” The interest of the Councillors will be appreciated by the Government, which admittedly has made progress towards the mitigation of the evil in allocating a sum in recent years for culling out the deer. But the seriousness of the matter calls for a more determined effort to preserve what remains of our magnificent busli from further destruction, and to avert the grave danger of increased flooding when the rainfall is exces. sive and the destruction and loss it entails.