CULLING THE DEER HERDS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13092, 4 June 1913, Page 4

CULLING THE DEER HERDS.

' „-"t\\- (pier Press Association.) . DrofEDIN", this day. A- deputation, representing the Otago Acclimatisation Society to-day waited upon the Hon. H. -D. pell for 'the purpose of soliciting Oovermnent assistance to "cull the red deer 'herds m the back Country between 'LuJdis Lake JBawea. It was pointed; out that the liawea herd HSa*l6hT»eeh,' Regarded as the finest" r iri* the' '> Wttrid,* bat the deer had been allowed to increase m such numbers and had become so weedy that a good hefcd' was becoming a rarity. The society had already spent £706 (including GoVernMent subsidy of JB100) m thinning' out the deer, but it was evident that- from 1000 to 2000 more old hindsr and malforms would have to be shot m order to preserve the herd. The' "society had spent "rhost of the tfeSreniiS 'derived from fishing licenses towards' 1 that end, >■ but the w6rk had been' seriously hampered by the inaction of the' < Waitaki Acclimatisation Society, as weedy and malformed deer swarmed over from the Waitaki ranges. The opiniotr- was expressed' that both herds shoifld'- be placed under one control for ttie- purpose of improving them, but they would be quite favorable to cooperate ' ; with the Waitaki Society if ttte 'Government could see its way to assist' l»oth bodies m calling operations. TJr>to-the present it had cost the society 2s 3d per head for deer that had been shot but m order to have the culling carried' out m a, proper manner thoroughly competent men should be employed. Ranger Johns said £300 to £400 was urgently required. He-con-demned the-methods' -hitherto adopted andaaid that to pet the best results the whole herd driven towards^ It had beL statfed that the deer were huriing small farmers, many of whom wS ; S,mplaining of their depredations j ir? tnrrtip aria other crops. t Government Officers Wd already taTcen the matter Sr consideration and, although he out fSi what had come under his notice Ster would receive his careful attentioti.'/ '■'■ '' ''' !