THE KILLING OF DEER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20383, 11 October 1929, Page 15

THE KILLING OF DEER.

GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS.

ATTITUDE IN AUCKLAND.

A SOUTH ISLAND MENACE. Tho opinion that the Forestry Department, in its endeavours to exterminate the doer which were alleged to have a harmful effect on timber forests and native growth, was seeking opportunity at the same time to restrict and perhaps eliminate acclimatisation societies themselves was expressed by a speaker at the meeting of tho council of tho Auckland Acclimatisation Society last evening. Tho statement to this effect, made by Mr. T. S. Withers, was taken up with keen interest by the other members. The discussion followed the receipt of a letter from tho Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs asking for suggestions with regard to deer control and shooting'regulations for tho coming season. An earlier communication dealt with measures for the protection of native birds, and it was suggested that deer, by reason of their killing the undergrowth and natural berry-bearing plants on which native birds feed, were a natural enemy of bird life in tho forests. The writer asked for the co-operation of tho acclimatisation societies in dealing with the menace constituted by deer. He further suggested that there should be no limit to tho number of heads which might be taken by any stalker, or of the number of points to a stag. This was commented upon by the chairman, Mr. F. E. McKenzie, and the secretary, Mr. C. M. Gordon, who said that if the Government obtained all the powers it desired in tho campaign for the destruction of deer all that would be left to the societies would be the fixing of dates for tho season and the number of licences issued. Tho cause of tho Government's seemingly very drastic action, the chairman explained, was the enormous extent of the herds of deer in the South Island, where tho animals had become a distinct menace. Ho did not think that deer in the Auckland district were present to any real extent. However, tho Government was taking tho same action against them as in the South Island. "It seems to me," ho said, " to be war on the deer to extinction." Members stated that what was known as the Taumarunui herd was tho only one of any size controlled by the Auckland society. Several speakers, including Mr. Withers, raised a plea for this herd on tho ground that they were in country where their damage was negligible and their numbers had not increased during past seasons. This herd, Mr. McKenzie stated, brought in only soven or eight licences and it would be wiser to fall in with tho wishes of the Government and let the herd be destroyed. Mr. W. G. Wohlmann said he wished to protest strongly against tho imputation that members of acclimatisation societies were apathetic toward the welfare of native birds. If deer were doing the damage alleged, he would be prepared to support tho Government by very extensive culling. Ho would not, however, like to see the deer exterminated. They could be kept down and in tho back country. The chairman here expressed the opinion that tho Government was not likely, in view of the damage done in the South, to be satisfied . with anything less than a comprehensive cast-iron regulation for tho wholo of the Dominion, irrespective of Auckland conditions.

A sub-committeo consisting of Messrs. H. C. Savage, G. G. Kelly and T. S. Withers was finally set up to make immediate inquiries concerning the Tautnarunui herd and collect information in support of the wish to preserve it.