ROUTING THE RABBITS.
PLANS AND PROGRESS. The past season, although a bad ono for the farmers generally, lias been an excellent one for one of'the New Zealand pastoralist's worst enemies, itt tha shape of Brer Rabbit. Not for ntauy years has there been a great propagation of the species. In pointing this fact out to a "Dominion" reporter on Friday, an officer of tho Agricultural Department said that there was iw doubt many farmers with the nig.i prices that had been ruling for rablniskins—especially those coining Jroni some parts of Uhe South Mand-bccnmo careless in connexion with the work <>t exterminating rabbjt3 located on thenholdings. There was a tendeiv yon tho part.of some to regard buifty as an asset. In placo of engagirfg poisoners they were getting the work done tree of cost bv flappers. In some cases, farmers actually receiving a Übnus trom trappers rfr permkaion to trap on thenproperty. . . . . ••'*'' i The sudden drop in tho price of rabf bit skins has • completely ;altcred 'me whole asuect of the situation, and this, ' being followed bv the most favourable season for.the breeding of labbitt experienced for a largo number of years, has apparently led to a considerable increase in the pest in most of the infod©d areas in the Dominion. On tin? other fraud, howover, the dry sea, son has made poisoning operations more successful, tho conditions being favour - able to a successful "take." In mo.*t, rabbit-infected districts, therefore, it u« expected that there will bo a considerable decrease in the pest, as a resuls of this season's poisoning.. The Department of Agriculture recognises that if tho farmers would reduce, the rabbits to reasonable dimensions the Tcrmin might then be kept in cheek by means of thoir natural oneinics-rforrpts, stoats, I 'and weasels. With this object in view, a largo number of ferrets are to be bred of the Wallaceville laboratorv and sold to farmers. In this connexion it is interesti«g to note that tho extensive trapping ot rabbits that was carried ort beiore the drop in skins Has also resulted in large destruction ol their natural enemy, ferrets' skins being valued by'trappers as well as thosa of like bunny. Ilabbits are .still far too numerous in , the Dominion;* especially in Otago and Canterbury,- ami m the King Country, in which latter district there wero until .a few.years ago very few rabbits. Now, however, t)le~King Country is tho worst district in the North Islaud. It is 'common knowledge that in tcme parte of tho South Island rabbits have driven thousands of sheep off the land, and. several ruh-holdors have, through this cause, abandoned their holdings. That. Uho situation is- still serious in parts is borno out by figures in the possession of the Department. These disclose the fact that the carrying capacity of a certain big station in Otago. was decreased to the extent of ia,.1»37 sheep in .tho last five .years.- The biggest drop orcurred dining last year, when the run pastured 70*5 fewer sheep thanJii 1911). Tho detailed figures are as follows: IfJl/S, 32.--IH9 sjieep; 1917, 31,372; 1918, ! J3,043; 1919, 2(5,5] tt; 1920,-19,481. .Meanwhile the rabbit inspectors in tho service of the Department nro rigorously enforcing the regulations relating to* the extermination of the pest. No half-measures will be taken, and farmers must carry out such work that is necessary to keep the rabbits in 'check.- In Tc Awamutii recently, a number of farmers were heavily fined for breaches of the Act, and a warning issued that further failure to comply with tlic regulations wouhl lead to still heavier fines;. Some o; the fines imposed recently by Magistrates, especially in the South Island, have been so low that it would appear in many cases, i a "Dominion'" reporter was-informed. that farmers not inclined to extehiiij nato the rabbit consider, that it is S cheaper to, -pay a lino than tn emplov | men to carry out the necessary poiseni in s- ''
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Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17117, 12 April 1921, Page 9
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652ROUTING THE RABBITS. Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17117, 12 April 1921, Page 9
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