GAME IN DOMINION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22326, 28 July 1934, Page 14

GAME IN DOMINION

A VARIETY OF SPORT VIEWS OF ENGLISH PEER. “ No game, great or small, is preserved in New Zealand in the same sense m which the word is used at Home,” states Lord Latymer, writing on big game in New Zealand in special Empire number of the Field, published recently. ‘ There is a close season for some kinds of birds, and at present grouse may not be shot at all, but duck, pheasants, and Californian quail may be shot, wherever they exist, by anybody with a license, at the proper season of the year. There are no keepers in either island.” Dealing with grouse, the writer ex presses his disappointment that, although they did fairly well to begin with they are now disappearing, and will all have vanished in a year or two. He, was in formed that stoats and weasels with which both islands were overrun, had found them out, but he expresses the opinion that causes connected with food or climate might be at work. “The National Park looks an ideal place for grouse," he states, “if some of the heather were burnt peribdically.” INJUDICIOUS IMPORTATIONS. “No country has suffered more from injudicious importations of animals and plants than New Zealand,” he continues. “ Stoats and weasels were brought in by way of dealing with the rabbit plague, but have become almost as great a pest as the rabbits, and have nearly exterminated the native wingless birds, the kiwis, and wekas.” , Although he has always sailed for the Old Country before the winter begins, Lord Latymer comments on the abundance of quail round about Lake Taupo, and the occasional pheasant put up from the scrub. He judges that, with a good spaniel, quite fair days might be Had shooting in the King Country, although a heavy bag could not be looked for. “ For the man ' who enjoys stalking his game and killing it with a rifle, he continued, “New Zealand is, or ought to be. a paradise. In the South Island there are moose, wapiti, red deer, chamois, and thar; and in the North Island there are many red deer and wild pigs. The wapiti in Southland are doing very well, and are spreading north into Western Otago and South Westland. It seems certain that some very big heads will be got in years to come if they are given a chance by the powers that be. But unless they spread down-wind into easier country, which is very unlikely, their pursuit will entail too much time, hardship, and expense to become popular.” “A LITTLE HYSTERICAL.” The writer proceeds to deal with the measures taken in the Dominion to check the ravages of red deer. He states that many New Zealanders, particularly the numerous class who are amateurs of botany and silviculture, almost “ foam at the mouth” if the word deer is men- “ The Government, badgered by the tern fanatics,” he states, “ has become a little hysterical on the subject. Even in tins year of grace. 1034. it is spending large sums of money on slaughtering deer in wild country many scores of miles away •from cultivation and civilisation. No one can object to the deer being killed down in sett'ed districts, where they are a nuisance to farmers. At the same time, it is not quite obvious to the casual observer why the farmers should not do the needful for themselves.” The claim put forward that the deer were destroying the forest, with consequent danger of denudation and a lessened rainfall. Lord Latymer counters with, the opinion that this is not actually the case in Westland, and remarks that some reduction in the 200 inches a year would not be a great calamity. MAGNIFICENT SPORTING ASSET. The other claim that Westland acted as a reservoir for deer, when the surplus flowed back into the settled districts of Canterbux-y and Otago, lie states is contrary to experience. It is the nature of the deer always to work back up wind, which would concentrate them to the westward. “ The fern fanatics, who are on top just at present,” he remarks, “do not realise what a magnificent sporting asset their country has in the doer of Westland, if only things were handled properly. If ever the depression lifts I am sure that overseas stalkers would avail themselves of any opportunities oiiered them, and spend a good deal of money in doing so. The forests have little or no commercial value: it is a thousand pities that their sporting value should bt- impaired or destroyed.” Lord Latymer’s article is well illustrated with photographs published by courtesy of the High Commissioner of typical shooting country in both islands. There is also a picture of a Westland ski party, giving another side of New Zealand’s attractions. The writer has made several visits to the Dominion, during which he has engaged in fishing and big game shooting.