DESTRUCTION OF DEER

Southland Times, Issue 21198, 26 September 1930, Page 7

DESTRUCTION OF DEER

ADDITIONAL FACILITIES PROVIDED. STATEMENT BY MR PERRELLE. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter). Wellington, September 25. The destruction of deer having been referred to during the debate on the estimates of the Department of Internal Affairs in the House of' Representatives early this morning, the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle said that a considerable sum of money would be available for this purpose. When interviewed regarding the matter to-day, Mr Perrelle said that it had been decided at the conference of local bodies, acclimatization societies and Government Departments held in Christchurch in the autumn to remove the protection from deer. During last year £1,300 was placed on the estimates for the destruction of deer and this had been increased by £3,700, making £5,000 for the present year. In addition to this the State Forestry Department would supply £2,600 and acclimatization societies would supply additional sums from their own revenue. The organization of shooting parties by the Department and by acclimatization societies was in progress and these parties would go into the back country where deer were most numerous. They would be supplied with three rounds of ammunition per head of deer free and would be able to purchase further ammunition at very low cost. It these, expeditions failed to eliminate deer they would certainly reduce the herds to a considerable extent. The commercialization of hides and antlers would be encouraged and an offer of 5/3 per hide had been received. These hides could be tanned and manufactured into motor coats, handbags, gloves and other articles in New Zealand and would thus tend to. supply employment. The antlers contained properties which were used in China for medicinal purposes.