THE DEER MENACE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3774, 13 July 1926, Page 74

THE DEER MENACE.

CAMPAIGN OF DESTRUCTION

WELLINGTON, July 5. To curb the increased number of deer in New Zealand and the considerable damage done by the animals to pastures and forest areas the Government has decided to remove protection on all deer excepting moose and wapiti at the close of the next deer stalking season unless it can be shown by the acclimatisation societies of different districts that they are adequately coping with the deer menace. “There is no doubt,” said ihe Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. it F. Bollard) to-night, ‘‘that deer ore rapidly increasing in many parts of New Zealand and so also is increasing tne amount of damage the animals are doing to our crop lands and forest reserves. Many complaints have reached me lately from agriculturists who certainly deserve some assistance. New Zealand has always been a fine deer stalking country for the »verseas visitor fond of the sport. All would like to get a 16 pointer, but the apid increase of the animals makes that impossible, for they are multiplying so rapidly that the culling out of deer, quite apart from the causes which have actuated the Government in its determination to deal drastically with the deer where they have proved to be a menace, is necessary. It will mean that better heads will shortly be obtainable. That, and to cut out the damage deer are doing, is what is wanted.’’ ONABILITIES OF ACCLIMITISATION SOCIETIES.

Mr Bollard said that he had made a careful review of the reports furnished to him about the damage done by deer. “New Zealand,” he said, “is credited with being one of the finest stalking countries in the world. As a tourist remarked ‘any man with a rifle can get a bag.’ It is the aim of the Government to maintain the sport, but it is its further aim to see that the crop growers of the Dominion do not suffer. It has therefore been decided to Remove protection on all deer excepting moose and wapiti at the close of the next deer stalking season unless it can be shown by the acclimatisation societies of the different districts that they are adequately coping with the deer menace. It has been suggested to acclimatisation societies that they should expend all the moneys received by them and in hand in respect of license fees for deer stalking, together with the moneys received by way of opossum revenue in thinning out the deer in their districts. In order to give acclimatisation societies power to deal with the animals in those areas where protection has not been removed 1 have renewed the warrant for a further period of 12 months, authorising acclimatisation societies to destroy deer, or to give permission to other persons to so destroy them. It has further been decided to continue the payment of bonuses in respect of deer killed within those districts in which protection has been removed. Some acclimatisation societies are doing excellent work in keeping down the deer herds in their districts, and it is sincerely to be hoped that the other soceties will follow in annually thinning out large numbers of deer in their districts. The Department of Internal Affairs, in conjunction with the Forestry Agriculture and Lands Departments, are keeping a very close watch on the action being taken in each district and of the number of deer killed, and also as to the destruction caused by the animals.” WHAT WAS DONE IN 1923. “It is not the first time that the Government has decided to remove protection on the killing of deer. In 1923 in certain parts of several acclimatisation districts in the South Island where the animals were considered to be most numerous and causing the greatest damage, protection was removed in order to assist in keeping down the pest. The Government decided to grant a bonus of 2s a head for each deer killed in the area where protection had been removed, and Is head for each deer killed in the remaining portion of the acclimatisation district where protection still remained. This policy resulted in the destruction of a considerable number of the animals, bonuses having been paid in respect of over 20,000 deer killed.