DESTRUCTION OF DEER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20424, 28 November 1929, Page 13

DESTRUCTION OF DEER.

MORE EXTENSIVE CULLING. NO LIMIT DURING SEASON. STATEMENT BY MINISTER* [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Frequent complaints have been made of the damage done to crops and pastures in New Zealand by deer, and to the alarming increase in the numerical strength of the animals. A statement of the official attitude of the authorities in the matter was made to-day by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle. " There has been a good deal of controversy," said Mr. de la Perrelle, " regarding the best method of coping with the deer menace in the Dominion. A suggestion has been made that protection should be entirely removed. It is, however, questionable whether this in itself would have the effect desired. In certain districts in the South Island it was, in 1923, considered desirable to remove protection from deer and to pay a bonus for every deer destroyed. " Tho following is a summary of the amounts paid and the number of deer destroyed:—Marlborough, £678 12s, 6786; Nelson, £1258 12s, 12,586; North Canterbury, £319, 3190; Otago, £849 18s, 8499; Southland, £721 12s, 7216; Waitaki, £458, 4581; Westland, £275 10s, 2755; totals, £4561, 45,613." The Minister said the table he had quoted did not by any means account for the number of deer destroyed, as acclimatisation societies had also destroyed large numbers. In addition property owners in districts where protection had not been removed could obtain without any difficulty authority to kill the animals found on their property and committing damage. The question whether protection should be removed in further districts, or whether it would be more desirable to initiate an intensive culling by acclimatisation societies, he said, recently considered. It was decided that at all events for the present arrangements would be made with societies to inaugurate a greater scheme than existed in the past for culling the animals. It was further agreed by acclimatisation societies to supply free ammunition to occupiers of property and others desiring to destroy deer. It was evident that if protection were entirely removed the Government would have to be prepared to expend a very much larger sum in paying bonuses. It was just questionable whether this expenditure would be justified at the present juncture. Realising that there was a limited number of people who were qualified to undertake the destruction of tho animals, it had been decided, in or-ler to help in the destruction of deer, that there should be no limit to the number or sex that may he taken or killed by a deer-stalker during the open season. The position would be further reviewed if it were found that the present action would not have the desired results. If it was thought desirable he would call a conference of interest ed parties with a view of further considering the matter.