OPOSSUM SKINS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 148, 25 June 1931, Page 9

OPOSSUM SKINS

THE DECLINE IN PBICE. R ELIEF FOR TRAI ’I?ERS. REDUCTION IN ROYALTIES. To case the position for trappers who have suffered from the considerable decline in prices for opossum skins, the Government has reduce'! from Is to 6d the amount of the royalty to be paid I on each skin taken. The, decision, which was recently made by the Cabinet, has i now been gazetted. i A sharp decline in values was appar- ' ent at the end of the last trapping season. Generally, the price received for skins was little above ss, while, in the previous year, the rates ranged from 7s to 10s. It is not expected that the former high values will obtain during lhe season now in progress, although no accurate guide to prices will be available until the first sales commence shortly in various parts of New Zealand. The royalty is payable to the fetate on each skin bearing the stamp of the acclimatisation society in whose district the skin was trapped. The condition that an extra 3d has to be paid for late stamping and stamping outside the area in which an animal was taken still exists. On each skin imported the royalty is Is. For the current season, the Government has apportioned £2877 among the various acclimatisation societies as the net amount received by way of tines, the proceeds of the sale of confiscated skins and articles, and half tho net revenue derived from fees and royalties. Of this sum Wellington receives £9BO, Otago £309, Nelson £2OO, Auckland £164 and Rotorua £l5l. The amount apportioned last season exceeded £4OOO. In past years many men found trapping a lucrative occupation, but difficulties were experienced last year and were brought under the notice of the Government. In 1928, an average skin was worth fully 10s. Near Auckland, opossums may be taken without license in the Waitemata and Rodney areas, including Rangitoto Island.