KEAS AND SHEEP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 9

KEAS AND SHEEP.

DIVIDED OPINIONS.

DUTIES OF A RANGER.

Tho matter of keas, their attacks upon sheep and their destruction, aroso at a meeting of tho North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society last weeK. The Deer Committee recommended tho appointment, at a salary of £250 a year, of a ranger to look after tho Rakaia deer forest, and cull tho herds. 'The point on which a diffcrcnco of opinion aroso was a recommendation that tho ranger bo empowered to shoot keas, the society to find tho ammunition. Mr. G. D. Mcllwraith, proposing the adoption of tho report, said that the matter had tho approval of tho Finance Committee.

Mr. C. R. Clark: I was in agreement with the appointment of a ranger, l>nt I don't approve of a doer ranger shooting koas in our time. Air. Lawrence: That was specified in tho memoranchim of the Finance Committor. The man is permanently engaged in killing deor. Tho job is a lonely- one, and t here can ho no objection to his earning a little inoro money bv shooting kcas. "Mr. G. T.Rutherford: As a sheepfarmer I can say that the kens aio an absolute enrso to the sheepfarmer. Why should not (he. kca bo kept down as well us tho deer? Mr. D. V- Ilobbs said lie was convinced (hat the kens were not as bad as thoy were painted. Only a small percentage of kcas killed sheep. Mr. ltobhs continued: Many farmers seem to regard the Acclimatisation Society as their worst enemy. That is not so; The Government introduced deer. Sir George Grey, while Governor, gave rabbits to tho country, and it is_ as impossible to refuse a Governors gift as it is to turn down his invitation. Tho Government introduced stoats and wcasols to keep down tho rabbits. Nono of the pesta wore introduced by the acclimatisation societies. It was decided to adopt tho Deer Committee's report, deleting tho part referring to koas.