THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
splendid work had been done, but were impressed with the fact that more 
vigorous work was necessary,” I think I am correct in stating that during 
their brief visit they hardly saw a deer and certainly never penetrated 
into the heart of the country where the rubbish exists. Yet, if such was their 
report after the briefest of brief examinations, what would it have been 
if they had camped out on the hillsides for a month or more ? 
At last, however, the necessity for the real extermination of the “ rub- 
bish ” seems to have impressed itself on those responsible. I quote from 
the annual report of the Otago Acclimatization Society, 1913: 
“ A contract has been let to shoot 300 head below the Dingle to 
Timaru Creek, and 300 in the Hunter, to be finished by September 30, 
at the rate of 2s. 3d. per head. Since the question of 4 culling’ or 4 thin- 
ning out ’ was first taken in hand in 1910 a sum of £711 has been ex- 
pended on this work. The wisdom of this is now beginning to show 
practical benefit, and establishes the necessity for its continuance 
on judicious lines in proportion to our means. This is a matter the 
urgent necessity of which we have endeavoured to impress upon 
our neighbours, the Waitaki Society, and can only hope that they will 
not fail to realize its importance. Their herd and runs being in close 
proximity makes concerted action indispensable.” 
My early remarks on the subject have been fully justified, and as the 
Government, in 1912, made a grant of £100 to the Society to aid them in 
their efforts at extermination, it is to be hoped that they will continue to 
assist in the future. 
It is no use importing fresh blood from England or elsewhere until 
the evil on the spot has been first eradicated. The great stronghold of 
the bad stock is in the Morven Hills, as I have already said. It is here that 
the deer should be killed, not away up the Hunter Valley, where any mal- 
forms there are are those which have wandered away from the country 
below the Dingle. It is common sense, after all, and exactly what is taking 
place in Scotland under somewhat different conditions. A given area of 
grazing land will only support a limited amount of stock, and a stag with 
a poor head will eat just as much as the finest royal that ever lived. If he 
finds that he cannot get food he will try and wander off till he meets with what 
he wants. So does a little leaven, in this case represented by an unhealthy 
stock of deer, leaven in time the whole. Killing off a few stragglers will 
do no good at all. There will be no material change in the condition of the 
deer in certain districts until the whole of the rotten stock is absolutely 
412 
