DEER MENACE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18068, 20 April 1933, Page 10

DEER MENACE

GOVERNMENT POLICY DEFENDED BY MINISTER A defence ol' tin* Government’s policy in allowing stalkers practically a free hand in the extermination of deer was made by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the. lloii. ,1. A. Young, in a statement.

]t, was emphasised by the Minister that doer had become a real post in various parts of the country, and the policy of encouraging stalkers to assist in wiping them out as far as possible was one of necessity. A serious view was taken of the depredations of deer not only on the native forest undergrowth,' but also on grass pastures and other crops in both the North and South Islands. Settlers (considered the deer a real menace, and in some instances it was shown that the productivity of fund was being seriously all'eeted through the ravages of the fleer. ‘•ln one instance." Mr. Young said,

“a holder whose property lias boon covered by deer destruction parties is now carrying 2000 more sheep. Another small station-holder has an additional 1000 sheep, representing an increase in stock carrying capacity of o 3 1-3 per cent., and* lias more feed than before. These cases are mentioned to show the extent to which depredations by deer may extend if not checked, and the evidence as to the numbers of skins which are being submitted to the Internal Affairs Department for payment of bonus is proof of the fact that the deer arc obtainable and that inroads arc being made on their numbers. •‘For several years the Department ol Internal Adairs paid a bonus on deer destroyed in the South Island, and from 1923 to 1932, the bonus was paid on over 113.000 deer. This, however, was nut meeting the position, and it was decided to endeavor to find a market for deer skins. Private enterprise had sold some skins overseas, but there had never been a. guaranteed supply. It is sufficient to say that about 14,000 skins have been disposed of to date by the Department of Internal Affairs, and further inquiries arc being received for supplies. Those skins have been secured partly from the operations of departmental parties and commercial hunters.

'L am pleased to sav that numbers of the deer skins are being manufactured into leather in New Zealand. It will thus be seen that the Government policy of encouraging the saving of deer skins is not only giving employment to commercial hunters and persons engaged in industry, but is also turning to useful purposes a commodity which, in the past, lias been largely wasted.’’