THE DEER NUISANCE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12503, 20 July 1926, Page 6

THE DEER NUISANCE

A valuable suggestion has been made by the president of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, which points the right way to dealing with the deer nuisance. Ihe acclimatisation societies are not responsible for the introduction of deer into this country. They are in the unfortunate position of having to exercise a control over the sport of deer-stalking, after the quarry has become a serious danger to settlement. Mr Tripp accepts the fact readily that in certain districts the deer have become a nuisance. With this, of course, goes the inference that all the districts that carry deer may one day, perhaps not far off, be in the same unfortunate position. Accepting the fact, he argues about it with perfect commonsense. Wherein he can be said to fairly represent all in any way interested in acclimatisation. All the societies and all the sportsmen are agreed that the too numerous, increasing herds must be drastically lessened; kept, in short, from being a serious public nuisance. Many suggestions are made from time to time, and variously received. But as 2500 head were slaughtered last year in a single district, it can be said without contradiction that something has been done. The general agreement is that this something is not nearly sufficient for the purpose. But there is a difference about the method to be adopted. Between the dislike of proprietors for a mob of pot-hunters disturbing their stock, the uncertainty of men whose districts are merely threatened, and Government departments—the Forestry and Agricultural Departments particularly—in •?, q? eir l an ds and their forests, there is a chaos of opinion which, if left to howl its views to the four winds of heaven, can never get near practical work. Mr Tripp suggests a conference of representatives of all these interests to consider the ways of dealing with the growing problem. Ihe idea is to bring all interests comprehensively into agreement, and practically on a matter on which they are theoretically agreed. It is the best way out. We recommend it to the Government.