MANAGEMENT OF DEER HERDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14700, 7 December 1909, Page 4

MANAGEMENT OF DEER HERDS

DISCUSSION BY THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. At yesterday's meeting of the council of the (lUgo Acclimatisation Sncicly the President (Mr I?. Chisholm) brought for-' ward proposals that had been submitted for ihc management of the North Otago herd. These proposals, which were as follow, had been put before the Government by Messrs E. llardcastle and R. Hay and the Rev. W. C. Oliver:— " Having taken a keen interest for some yoaiy past in the volfnre of the North Otago herd of red deer, mid from our annual visits to the stalking-grounds having become well acquainted with a considerable portion of the country occupied by the deer, we desire to place before the O.vernment a proposal for the future management, of the herd. The herd is under tho jurisdiction of the Olago and Waitaki Acclimatisation Societies, the boundary between tho two districts being tho mountain range that separates the watershed of the Cltilha from that of tho Waitaki. This boundary line, so far as tho doer are concerned, is, however, nonexistent, as they freely pass from one district to the other, and to all intents anil purposes there is only one herd of deer, descended from one importation. •' From the point where they were first liberated on the Morven Hills, the deer have spread over a large area oi country, chiefly to the north and west. With nothing to prevent, the natural spread of the deer in these directions, and the country being lightly stoked with sheep after the disastrous snowstorms in 1893 and 1895, no apprehension was felt as to the welfare ot the herd till the year 1905. In that year Mr John 11. King, of' Pembroke, Lake Wanaka, pointed out that degeneration of the deer east of Lake Ilawca had set in, but no action was taken by the Otago Society. Mr King's statement was fully borne out two years later by Mr 11. Frank Wallace, a stalker from Home, who wrote a strong letter to the Otago Daily Times on the subject. Some of the Christchurch deer-stalkers then took tho matter up, and have since, with others, endeavoured to advise the societies as to what should be dona to prevent the increase of inferior deer on that jwtion ot tho country that had becomo not only overstocked, but 1 upon which the special d<«r feod had been oaten out, and to prevent the spread ot these degenerates through the best of _ the herd. By means of conferences the views of practical men have been put before the Gociefcios. Tlis Soeioty hns shown its willingness to carry out the policy laid down, but owintr to the want of knowledge of the country and of tho deer, and to the fact that ;t has allowed other influences to interfere, the work of culling has Iwen done in what wo consider a vciy unsatisfactory and inadequate manner. With the exception of a piece of ill-advised expenditure two years ago, the Waitaki Society has never spent a penny upon the deer herd during all the it lias enjoyed a. revenue from it through' licens® fees (amounting this year to over ibU), and has shown little or no. disposition to work in with the Otago bociety. '• At a conference held in Dunedui in June, 1508. an advisory committee was set up, with tho sanction of the Otago Society, to s.-.?ist in the management of the herd. What wo new desire to propose to tho Gcrernmcnt is that the herd should be handed over to a spaeial board, the personnel of which should similar tothat of the above-mentioned advisory committee, together with a representative of tho Government. We are Quito satisfied that under present conditions it will be practically impcssiWe to have tho herd looked after as it should be. u r f ho policy of such a board be to pre.wrvo the herd for local and visiting sportsmen, ;;:*l at the same tone to aim at reducing tho dc-er on the sheep country, so that ultimately the herd will be entirely i treated on ths main mountain chain from ! Mount Cook southwards, which is specially sr.itfd for rod dear, but not for domestic stock. Tho total revenue from deer-stalking licences rliis r,.z,'on was about £250, on a £4- liecrao, and we consider thftt if a similar sum is annually expended it will | meet all rcrjuircments. Tho revenue from i tho hoid lias erf late year's been increasing, ami iis time g<i?s on no doubt the number of stalkers will te still larger. "If our proposal is not agreed to, at, least the dual control of tho herd should be terminated. Even if the Otago Society fully carried out tho practical men's ideas regarding culling, tho adjoining ground of tho Waitaki Society would form a saaictusry for those inferior deer that the culling operatic:!.'! would drive over the boundary. Alrc.vly a migration of tho deer from tie overstocked country east of Lake lla.v;ea has set in cn to the Waitaki Society's ground, and they are making for the Mackenzie Country sheep runs. "We trust that tho finverimwHit, will ■give this matter favourable consideration, and, if possible, make the necessary , arrangements before tho next stalkiug season, so that the beard may have the revenue from the licenses to enable it to start. cnl'i:r- operations during the coming year." Mr Chisholm pointed out that there had l;een a conference with regard to tho managment of the herds in 1908, and thought members of the society should oxpress their opinions.freely on tho proixoals contained in the report, he had received. Ho moved: "That tho attention of tho Otago Acclimatisation Society having bcon directed to tho proposal pf Messrs Hardcattle, Hay, and Oliver, of Christchurch, to have the control an<i management of tho North Otago deer hord handed' over to a special board, comprising aimongst othors the three persons referred to, takes the earliest opportunity of strongly protesting against the eoursa suggested. The society ■further expresses its surprise at the arrogance and lack of courtesy in their approaching the Government with such a proposal while members of an advisory committee, without consulting their colleagues, who had no _ knowledge of their intentions. Tlio K>eiety denies that it has allowed other influences to interfere with the culling of tho deer, and has ever declined to be influenced by these _ gentlemen named. Tho society has acted in concert, with its local executive at, Hawoa, and has done good work, having just, finished a contract, for tho killing of 658 deer at a cost of £150

to the society, avd is about to complete another contract, practically exterminating the weedy deer in the lower portion, of the district under the supervision of its

special ranger, who, the society is convinced, knov.s more about the country and the door than Messrs Ikrdcastle, Hay, and Oliver combined. The society further olijects to the control of its deer herd being handed over to a board comprising persons from another province, who have 6hown Mo aptitude in the control or management of their own herd."

Mr Brown, deprecated the dictatoriaJ tone of the proposals made, and contended that the Otago Society had done more work in ths way of improving the deer herds than any other body, and doubted whether Mr Hardcastle had any lccus standi.

Ml' Butterworth said that at the.conference every scheme the Otago members pnjt forward Mr Hardrastlo opposed. Tho motion was carried unanimously, and it was decided to send oopies of tho resolution to the Woitaki Society, to the •Minister, and to Mr ITardcastle.

MR HARDCASTLE EXPLAINS. iFitou Oca Own Comesposdent.) CHRIBTCIIURCH, December 6. Referring to the resolution passed to-day by the Otago Acclimatisation Society regarding the proposal by Messrs liardcastle, Oilver, and Hay to the Government to have the Otago deer herd placed* under the control of the Government, Mr Hardcastle, speaking to a. Press reporter, said that when it was deoided to approach the Government lie and his friends fully expected to meet, with strong opposition on the part of the two societies interested. So far as taking this action was concerned, they were in a porfectly independent position, ns there was nothing official about their membership of the advisory committee. The decision to approach the Government was made when they saw what a muddle was btin:,' made of a contract, let in the winter to shoot over 500 head of deer, tho contract being broken by the Ha.wea executive, who seemingly without any authority let a second/contract and then resigned when the society reinstated tic original contractors. Notwith-

standing that, almost every ' action (hat had bctn taken in regard lo culling tlio deer hqrd during' Hie Inst two years had been on the initiative of Christohurch stalkers. The fact ;.lmt, according to Mr chisholm, the shoot in;; of deer had lson allowed to go on up to date, showed how futile it had bcv?ti to get the recommendations properly carrial cur. At. ihc conference hold in December. .1908, the months for culling wora agreed lo he .Inly. August, and September, as stalker.-, while desiring to sor> tiic herd cuiled, strongly obj<x\ ; «y.l to allowing this work to he done while the hinds were near or at calving, and the calving started about (he beginning of this month. This recommendation of the conference had boon set aside. The mistake wa? to let such «• small contract as for 500, aiul ihon to make matters wo!s> hv having a imxkllo in carrying it out. In spite of the alleged want o! knowledge of I lie country, Mi" Hanlcasilo says he is positive that tho whole of the "lower ground"' lias not been proporly (!oalt. with, foi- Mr Chisholm is speaking with an entire want of knowledge of tho country or of the number of deer there. _ What tho cGnchidi.n,g portion of tho society's resolution refers io Mr Hardcastle says he dees not know, as ne/ther himself nor Messrs Hay and Oliver nave anything to do with Canterbury Acclimatisation matters. _ Mr Hardcast.le saysthat he only assisted in making tlio lieccssarv arrangement for the importation of the first lot cf doc-r that came from AYarnham Court last year. The reforonco to Mr Bnddo might bo over for what it was worth, and that was not. much, for the fact of Mr Hud-do being the Canterbury represcniaiivc in the Ministry was never once liken into consideration. "Having no case, abuse tho other side," was evidently, Mr Harvcastle concluded, tho policy adopted by the Ota,go Society, and lie anil his fellow sportsmen, were qtiito willing to leavo others to .imigo whether the abuse was deterred or not.