HELPING RUNHOLDERS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 191, 13 August 1931, Page 7

HELPING RUNHOLDERS.

Subsidy Wanted for Deer Destruction. It was stated at the annual meeting of the Sheepbreeders’ Union last night that deer were increasing to alarming proportions in the back-country of Canterbury. A motion was passed urging the Government to grant a subsidy of 3s 6d a head for all deer killed throughout New Zealand. Mr George Gerard said that in practically all the back country deer were an absolute pest, and the speaker asked the union for assistance in bringing about an improvement. The Acclimatisation Society had done good work and spent much money in the speaker’s own district near the Rakaia Gorge; but in spite of that the deer were increasing, and destroying both feed and forests. Departmental Efforts. It was of no use leaving the culling to the Department of Internal Affairs. One Government party of inexperienced men, who were not good shots, had shot about 750 deer. The speaker had been told that the party could have shot 1500 if they were experienced. One effect of their visit was to drive the animals into the bush. The Acclimatisation Society paid 4s a head, but received no recompense from the Crown. The Government had had a price of 2s on deer heads, but had removed it. When up to 7s 6d a head had been placed on keas, that pest had more or less disappeared, and the same would probably happen to deer if the Govern ment gave a subsidy of 3s od a head. There were thousands of goats in the mountainous country, and to this menace should not be added the danger oi the thar spreading from the Mount Cook region. Question of Skinning. Mr Gerard urged that deer-killers should not have to skin the animals, as that was a waste of time when there was little or no market for the skins By skinning the animals shooters were spoiling their chances of further shots. The skins were valuable, stated Mr Ilanmer Atkinson, and the best men would not be encouraged to go on to the runs if skinning were prohibited. Mr Gerard agreed to delete from his motion any mention of skinning. The motion as amended was carried unanimously.