The Manawatu Daily Times The Deer Menace

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 132, 7 June 1935, Page 6

The Manawatu Daily Times The Deer Menace

According to a message from Invercargill in this -issue deerstalkers have a grievance because the Government declines to encourage overseas sportsmen to visit the Dominion in pursuit of their favourite pastime. Until the official reason for such an attitude is forthcoming comment must be withheld, but the layman cannot be blamed for wondering why on the one hand there are urgent reasons for keeping deer in check and on the other hand the department responsible is actively discouraging the very people wlio could help in this matter, and who at the same time, would bring much-needed revenue into the country.

The question of Hie deer menace was referred to in the course of his presidential address at the Science Congress a few days ago by Professor Speight, who called pointed attention to the destruction caused to the New Zealand bush by deer and other animals introduced from overseas. He said though the Government in the last few years has taken steps to protect certain plants from the depredations of man, enough lias not been done to protect the plant covering from the attacks of introduced animals

The root of the trouble is to be found in the sentiment and love of sport which impelled the pioneers to introduce from the Homeland animals - and plants, easy to be controlled in their own habitats, which multiplied amazingly when introduced to this new land

The rabbit was the first striking illustration of this development. In one way and another it has cost New Zealand millions of pounds. Next the small birds became a pest to farmers. To-day deer arc the chief cause of worry. Strictly protected for many years, they have now increased at such a rate that the forests are imperilled.

The matter became so acute that in 1930 the Minister of Internal Affairs called a conference, which was attended by 45 delegates, to discuss the problem. The unanimous conclusion arrived at was that there was a menace of deer in New Zealand to forest, farm, and bird life, that steps must ho taken urgently to remove that menace, and that the one directing body should he the Government, in consultation with the interests concerned.

It was pointed out during the conference proceedings that large numbers of deer in certain districts had already been destroyed by the Government and certain acclimatisation societies. In Wellington province, for instance, 15,000 had been killed in the preceding five years, hut it was declared that wliat was wanted was a co-ordinated scheme to cover all the hush areas menaced. The Minister (Mr. dc la Pcrrclle) was quite alive .to the position, and expressed the view that the first step to deal 'with the situation urns to remove all protection on deer, chamois, and thar. »,

Protection was consequently removed from deer, and war waged on them. For the past five years the Department of Internal Affairs has engaged official parties of huntsmen in reducing the numbers of this destructive pest. Well over 120,000 deer have been slain in the Dominion since the Government began its operations in the 1931 season, and over 40,000 skins, worth more than £12,000, have been saved.

Scepticism marked comments on the department’s attempt five years ago to save deer skins from waste and convert them into wealth. Though faced by technical and marketing difficulties during the first two years or more, success has been won. There is a good demand for what is now a marketable commodity for manufacturing purposes. Deer destruction is proceeding in three ways.

Besides the operations of the official parties, private commercial hunters go out every season with the co-operation of the department, and, no license being needed, individual settlers and amateurs shoot many deer about the farms of the less remote districts. An unrelenting war must be prosecuted. The New Zealand forests will not stand browsing animals, and destruction of the forest floor means disaster to the hnsli itself. Already it has suffered enormous damage, and above the hush line chamois and thar are destroying the alpine vegetation.