DEPREDATIONS BY DEER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17013, 11 April 1923, Page 8

DEPREDATIONS BY DEER.

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. (Per Press Association.") WELLINGTON, April 11. A conference of representative* of Acclimatisation Societies and representatives of the Government departments concerned is being held here to consider what steps should be taken to deal with the question of depredations by deer. The Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, presided. Acclimatisation societies from Ashburton. Feilding, Marlborough, Nelson, Otago, North Canterbury, Rotorua, Southland, Waitaki, Waimarino, W anganui and Wellington were represented. Tl«e New' Zealand .Forestry I (ague and Board were also representtd. and there were several departmental officers present. It was stated that the Otago Acclimatisation Society, which had spent £ISOO in culling out 3000 head in the last quarter or two, while recognising i lie necessity of removing protection nom large areas, was anxious that one particular herd of Scotch deer should he preserved. Its views would be put before the conference as to how far it would be possible to maintain some herds in parts remote from settlement in the interests of the Tourist Department. Assuming that protection was removed in some specified areas remote from settlement, there still remained a very large question as to what was to be done with a view to reducing, or getting rid of deer not in the protected a’ens. The speaker said that he understood the Defence Department was prepared to supply ammunition at cost pnee under proper restrictions. There was a strong feeling in Parliament and among settlors and the public as to the menace of the deer nuisance, but the Government was anxious at the same time to protect the interests of the Tourist Department and the acclimatisation societies.