Discouraging Overseas Deer Stalkers

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

Discouraging Overseas Deer Stalkers

INTERNAL AIT AIRS DEPARTMENT CRITICISED Pex- Press Association INVERCARGILL, Lpst Night. At tlio annual dinner of deer stalkers this evening a number of speakers voiced a strong protest against the attitude taken up by the Department of Internal Affairs which informed the National Rifle Association of New Zealand that it could not be a party to encourage anyone to come to New Zealand for stalking. The matter was introduced by Dr. A. F. Ritchie Crawford, president of tiie Now Zealand Association, who quoted excerpts from correspondence that had passed between the association and the department. It was explained that Sir Lionel Fletcher, president of tho National Rifle Association of Britain, sent a request through the Commisioncr of New Zealand for a red deer head to supplement tho collection of sporting trophies in the National Rifle Association pavilion at Bislcy. Already there were over 100 trophies of the chase in this pavilion and it was felt that New Zealand should be represented in tho collection which created the keenest interest from thousands visiting Bislcy each year. An outstanding head was secured by tho New Zealand National Rifle Association and was now being mounted in .Invercargill. Feeling that it was a matter in which the Government was directly concerned, the association approached the Department of Internal Affairs with a request that it should defray the shipping charges to London. A reply was received from tho department that tho request could not be granted. Then followed the statement: “The department camiot.be a party to encouraging anyone to come to New Zealand for stalking.” Instances were given by stalkers present where Government culling parties had been sent into stalking blocks Toserved for overseas sportsmen only a few days before the visitors took up their block. The case of Lord Latymer in South Westland was cited, it being alleged that lie was subjected two seasons ago to interference by a Government culling party. Tho action of the Government party in sending home a party of Southland stalkers from Manapouri this season and refusing them the right to go into tho deer country for stalking was also quoted. A resolution was passed by the deer stalkers this evening protesting against the self-imposed policy of the Department of Internal Affairs in declining to encourage anyone to come to New Zealand for deer-stalking. *