INCREASE OF DEER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19497, 4 June 1925, Page 14

INCREASE OF DEER.

A MENACE TO AGRICULTURE. DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER. Among the deputations which wailed on the Minister of Agriculture (lion. W. Nosworthv) yesterday morning was one from the Crookston branch of the Farmers’ Union, who asked that when the proposed afforestation of the Blue Mountains was carried out some protection against the increased number cf deer which would result from tho growing of tho forest should be •given to agricultural and pastoral interests. Mr I. D. Revie, who was (he principal sneaker, said that it was intended that 2000 acres should bo planted out in trees in the Blue Mountains, just below which there was some of the finest agricultural land in . the country. The mountains wore infested with deer, and the settlers feared that when the bush was grown the deer would take cover in it and raid the country below. It hnd been said that an effort would be made to exterminate the deer, hut the s-rtf-Icrs wanted an assurance that it would he properly carried out. Mr Nnsworthy; I understand you have no objection tc the planting, but yon want an assurance of prelection against the deer. Mr Revio: That is tho position. The Minister said that .all he could do was to have a talk with Sir R. Heaton Rhodes and his colleagues on (he mat!or. “I am as keen as von arc to get the deer out of the country," he added.