GAME CONSERVATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19554, 17 April 1935, Page 9

GAME CONSERVATION.

DESTRUCTION OF VERMIN. ■ ~ GOOD RESULTS ACHIEVED. The fact that £3BB 7s Gd had been expended in the deslruction 0f*15,540 hawks during.the past year was mentioned at the annual meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society in Hamilton last evening. Though those figures were an increase on last'year, the council considered It was essential to continue their efforts in order to protect the native and imported game from being very greatly reduced by the attacks of these birds. Until December i the usual bounty of Is' per tall was paid for the destruction of. stoats and w-easels. It was then found that the society’s finances could not stanc\ this heavy drain, and the bounty was reduced to 6d. Altogether £2BB 13s was paidout, representing 64-74--tails.

' A remit was carried at the recent conference urging the .Government to allow the export and sale of the skins of stoats, weasels and' ferrets. A skin buyer operating in a large way reported that lie would dispose of 1000 bales of these skins a year If permission could be obtained. Tf action were taken on these lines not onlywould the Society’s' funds be savbd but a further means for the relief of unemployment would be found. The Minister 'of Agriculture, replying to the above remit, -had advised that protection had already been removed for forest areas of over,lo acres, and that was as far as the Department jwas able to go. -