DEPREDATIONS OF DEER.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15211, 12 April 1923, Page 5

DEPREDATIONS OF DEER.

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON.

By Telegraph.—Press Association WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

A conference of representatives of the Acclimatisation Societies and representatives of the interested Government departments is being held to consider what steps should be taken to deal with the question of depredations by deer. * The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. YY. Downie Stewart) presided. The acclimatisation societies of Ashburton, Feilriing, Marlborough, Nelson, Otago, North Canterbury, Rotorua, Southland, Waitaki, Wairnarjno, Wanganui, and Wellington were represented. The New Zealand Forestry League and Board were also represented, and there were several departmental officers present. The chairman said the Otago Acclimatisation Society, which had spent £l:iO() in culling out 300 ) head of deer in the last quarter or two, while recognising the necessity of removing protection from lar.ee areas, was anxious that one particular herd of Scotch deer should be preserved. Its views would be put before the conference. Assuming that pfoterLion was removed in some specified areas remote from settlement, there .till remained 11nvery large question as to what was lo lie don.' with a view lo reducing or getting rid of deer not in the protected ar.-as. He understood Hie Defence Department was prepared lo supplj ammunition at cost price under proper restrictions. There was a strong feeling in Parliament and among settlers and puhlie as lo the menace of the nuisance, hut the Government was anxious at (tie same time to prolecl the intcre.-tr- of the Tourist Department .ajid tccUniatiiation iocisues.