The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. “Luceo Non Uro.” FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1935. SIGNS OF CONFLICT

Southland Times, Issue 25305, 7 June 1935, Page 6

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. “Luceo Non Uro.” FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1935. SIGNS OF CONFLICT

It was extremely unfortunate that the Department of Internal Affairs, in* communicating with the president of the Rifle Association, should have so worded its refusal to assist in the despatch of a red deer’s head to England that it gave the impression that it was not favourable to deerstalkers coming to the Dominion from overseas. This head was sought by the British Rifle Association for display at Bisley where it would be seen by riflemen, among whom would be a number interested in stalking, and the effect would be to impress on them the class of head to be obtained in this country. The New Zealand Association sought the assistance of the department in defraying the cost of shipping the trophy Home, but the department’s reply was that it could not be a party to encouraging visits from overseas deer-stalkers. If the department had stated that it could not apply any part of its funds to this purpose, but that the Tourist Department might be approached it would not have committed itself to a statement having the appearance of direct antagonism to the policy of the Government. Through its advertisements in the Old Country the New Zealand Tourist Department is urging stalkers to come to New Zealand, and it is therefore astonishing that another department should declare itself antagonistic to that course. Unfortunately this view of the department’s communication was strengthened by statements at the meeting of riflemen last night, showing that on more than one occasion the parties engaged in culling the deer in the fjord country, under the direction of the Department of Internal Affairs, had “shot” over blocks of deer country let to visiting sportsmen. It is true that the department’s policy is to reduce drastically the number of deer in the fjord country, and there is no need to comment on the wisdom

of this course or on the methods by which the policy is being carried out; but it is obviously wrong that visitors,, who have been attracted to New Zealand by the efforts of the Tourist Department, should find their opportunities virtually ruined by the operations of a Government party in the reserved deer blocks only a few days before their arrival. The Department of Internal Affairs must be aware of the activities of the Tourist Department, and, if only for the sake of the good name of the Dominion, it should take care that those who are in charge of the culling operations respect the blocks that have been reserved. As we have said, such incidents tend to confirm the view taken that the department’s letter to Dr. Ritchie Crawford expresses some degree of antagonism to visits by stalkers from overseas. It is in the interests of the Tourist Department that these stalkers should be attracted to New Zealand, and «the least another department of the administration can do is to refrain from any action which may appear to be unsympathetic. Some explanation. of this apparent conflict should be given at once, and while the matter is under consideration, the Department of Internal Affairs should make clear its desire to prevent its culling party from over-running a deer block a few days before visitors to whom it has been let.