OPOSSUM NUISANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21342, 17 November 1932, Page 15

OPOSSUM NUISANCE

EXTENT OF PROTECTION

MUSEUM COUNCIL'S PROTEST

''Opossums are <1 perfect abomination, and I cannot see their worth," said Mr. H. E. Vaile, at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Institute and Museum yesterday. A reply was received from the Auckland Acclimatisation Society regarding the institute's recent protest against the further liberation of opossums in forest areas. The society pointed out that there was no intention on its part to liberate opossums at Te Aroha, Coromandel or any other forest area.

The suggestion to liberate the animals in tho To Aroha Range had been brought forward some years ago, and immediately dropped by the society. At the conference of acclimatisation societies in Wellington last month, the Auckland organisation had submitted a remit suggesting that the Government should lie urged to allow opossum revenue to revert to acclimatisation societies conditionally upon the moneys being used for the protection and preservation of the I wrests and native bird life. The remit had been defeated on the ground that the object was too intangible for a claim for the return of the revenue. The conference, however, had passed a remit that the revenue should revert to the societies to be used for fish research and native bird protection. Investigation had shown that opossums did little or no damage to native birds, but the society felt that thero should be further investigation before a conclusion was reached that opossums were in the same category as red deer in the depredation of forests. The president of the council, Mr. .A. G. Lunn, said the institute looked upon opossums as detrimental to bird life and vegetation. Jt appeared, from the society s communication, that no further protection of the animals had been given. Mr. Vaile suggested that the Auckland Acclimatisation Society should be asked to support the institute's views against opossums. In Mr. Vaile's view, all protection of opossums should be remo\ed. The council decided to obtain the support of local authorities in its objection to tho protection of opossums, and, in the meantime, to obtain further information regarding the effect of the animals on bush.