DEFENCE OF OPOSSUMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18867, 15 November 1924, Page 10

DEFENCE OF OPOSSUMS.

KING COUNTRY REQUEST. PLEA FOR LIBERATION. A strong defence of the opossum and a plea for its introduction to the forests of the King Country was voiced by Mr. H. H. Ostler at a meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society last evening, fho matter arose in connection with a letter from the Waitomo Acclimatisation Society asking that the opossum be liberated in the district on the ground that it would be a great asset, not only to the district, but a source of revenue - to the Dominion. Mr. Ostler quoted Professor Kirk and other authorities, who had stated that the opossums did no damage whatever to the forests. " There is no reason whatever why we should not be allowed to acclimatise them," he added. " The Wellington society's income has been increased by about £2000 a year, paid in royalties on opossums, and I think we should leave no sod unturned until we get them established in the Te Kuiti district, where there are thousands of acres of forest in which they would thrive." In about 20 years' time, continued Mr. Ostler, people would wake up to the fact that the bush was well filled with opossums from the 40 animals liberated about 10 years ago, " which nobody knew anything about." What was wanted was the establishment of a new field with black opossums, which would supply a fine, marketable fur. The Wellington society liberated a few- animals in 1892, and they had thriven and increased wonderfully. If the Auckland society could secure the liberation of some opossums in the district " it would not be long before their little nest-egg came back." Other members spoke in the same strain, and it was decided that a letter should be sent to the Minister for Internal Affairs asking for permission to introduce the opossum.