RED DEER HERD IN OTAGO

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 58

RED DEER HERD IN OTAGO

NECESSARY.

CULLING URGENTLY NECESSARY. DEPUTATION TO HON. W. ERASER. The culling of the rod deer herd of Otago and its maintenance a.t the original standard are matters which have received a good deal of consideration and discussion lately by the Otago Acclimatisation Society. Tire urgent necessity for a State grant in order to assist substantially the society’s work of thinning out a prolific herd was brought under the notice of the Hon. W. Eraser, Minister of Public Works, on the 2nd inst. by a deputation representing the whole of the council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society. Some interesting facts concerning the red deer herd were disclosed by members of the deputation, and the Minister expressed himself to bo in full sympathy with the society’s object, and promised to bring the matter under the notice of the lion. E. 11. U. Dell, Minister of Internal Affairs. The deputation was introduced by Mr 0. E. Statham, M.P., who explained that it desired to seek the support of the Minister, as member for the Wakatipu district, in the matter of obtaining sonic help from the Government, if at ail possible, tor the purpose of carrying on the society s work of culling the herd m the Hunter A' alley and Wanuka district. The society found that the work was a matter of some urgency, and, although they recognised that the Government at present had plenty to do with State finance, they hoped that a grant would be made, as good deal of loss would be experienced if the work of culling were delayed. The deputation hoped that the Minister would place then request before the Hon. Mr Beil and give it Ids support. Mr G. W. MTntosh, president of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, said that about two years and a-half ago the society waited upon Mr Bell, and pointed out to him the urgent necessity for obtaining same assistance irem the Government to prosecute the society’s work of culling .the herd under their control, as the funds of the society were not sufficient to cope with the need for thinning out. The of Internal Affairs had promised to look into the matter, and a conference ol acclimatisation societies was to have been held last August, but the outbreak of war intervened, and it was indefinitely deferred. It was pointed out to the Minister that the,y did not hope for much support from the conference, for the reason that other districts in the dominion wore not affected in the same way as Otago. Probably other herds were not so old and had not increased in the same ratio. The society again wrote to the Minister requesting a grant of £3OO, and pointing out that the work of culling was as urgent as over. The Minister s reply was, in effect, an expression of regret that owing to the state of -war I*3 could not promise any definite assistance. That was how the matter stood to-day. The society now asked Mr Iraser to endeavour to get the Government to take into consideration the necessity for giving a grant as soon as possible. The request was not a new thing. The Government had a precedent for granting help, ihe society had got from a previous Government £lbJ and a promise of further assistance. During the past five years the society had spent £7B/ (including the grant of £100) m try in <>• to keep the herd in order*. It would be a°sacl result if the herd .were permitted to deteriorate by over-stocking. Ihe c ° un “ try was not able to curry the large herd that now existed. He hoped the Government would see its way clear to render some assistance. There had been some take of the taking - over of the herd by the Government, and the society had no objection to this course, provided the work was carried out by someone without delay. As member for Wakatipu, Mr Eraser would doubtless know the actual condition of the herd and the increase that had been going on. Only the best stags were shot by sportsmen, and the natural increase of hinds was very large. If culling wore not rigorously carried out tho result would be both detrimental to the herd and seriously troublesome to settlers. The only remedy was a severe thinning out. The society had been told that in order to regain the former standard of quality it would be necessarj to destroy at least 2000 deer this year, and as many more next year. The society was particularly anxious, to thin out the herd m the Hunter Valley, and raise it to tho original standard. There was another large district at Morven Hills and the Lind is, where deer were very numerous, and whore no good heads were got at ah, and permission had been given by the Minister (Mr Bell) to shoot deer there at any time up to December. In order to do effective culling in the Hunter V alloy the society was trenching on its reserve funds. That had to be done, but it hoped the Government would give some assistance. In reply to a question by the Minister, Mr MTntosh replied that the revenue from licenses last season amounted to £l4O. Mr D. Urquhart (Hawca) endorsed the president’s explanation as to the condition of the herd, and emphasised the urgency for rigorous culling. . , ~ The Minister said he quite realised the importance of the deputation s request. He knew the state of affairs as regards the herd, and had boon familiar with it for some’ years. It had been self-evident that hinds had *not been shot by sportsmen. There was no doubt that the place was overstocked. Ho realised tho importance of n-ettino- a good herd, but they must not lose sTght of the fact that probably Mr 801 l had in his mind when he suggested a full discussion at a conference that possibly overstocking existed in other districts. It was true, of course, that herds were newer m other districts, and more like wiiat the Otago rod doer herd was some 30 years ago. Personally, he sympathised with the deputation, and would do all ho could to secure assistance for it. He had frequently urged tho matter unon his colleague (Mr Bell), but Ministers were very busy these days, and necessarily many ordinary matters had to stand down. But ho would try to urge tho Minister of Internal Affairs to provide something this year. It would be a thousand pities if the herd wore allowed to deteriorate seriously. The deputation thanked Mr Fraser for his sympathy and support, and then withdrew.