THE RABBIT PEST.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 78, 26 December 1907, Page 8

THE RABBIT PEST.

'A DISCUSSION AT KIMBOLTON. The Kimbolton rabbit committee (writes our lt'eilding correspondent) has been discussing the bunny problem, and tlie necessity for taking combined action during the sum-' mer. inspector Johnstone lias roported that it was ridiculous to think that because feed was plentiful rabbits would not touch the poison. It might be necessary to vary the poison, and although ho did not belio'vo in laying poison indiscriminately, it' was Well to poison widely in the locality of indications. The dry summer weather was an especially good timo to poison. It might ho possible to keep tho pest down with dogs if this work was dono systematically by ovoryone in the district. Tho rabbits were certainly increasing just now, but they must romomber that tho suinmor time was tho period of natural increase, and those who wero trying to cope with: tho pest should not bo disheartened. 11l the district over which lie had control, in tho vicinity of Colytnn. Waituna, Kimbolton, Halcombe, and Bulls, over 12,000 rabbits had been caught in the last twelve months. It would bo a good thing if" they could increase tile levy to 2s. or 3s. per 100 acres, and import a man with dogs to work systematically. Mr. Crabb pointed out that only fifteen farmers bad paid the Is, lev.v- and ho

doubted whether increasing the levy would increase the finances.

Mr. Stanley, of i'eop-o-Day, wanted to arouse farmers to the gravity of the position. He bad been sorry to notice recently a suggestion about winding up the committeo altogether, for they were doing good work, although admittedly under discouraging. circumstances. In bis locality rabbits were increasing rapidly. If tho farmors would only combine and lay poison on one particular day, the results would be effective. In Waituna and Livingstone, where rabbits had been found, tho poison had proved very successful. Ho considered the apathy of the farmers in this matter was a rank disgrace. Mr. L. Jackson said that years ago he had warned settlers of the danger of the spread of the pest, and, he had been laughed at. If combined action was not taken in two years, their riding of the county would be carrying one sheep an acre less than at present. _ It was eventually decided on the motion of Ulr. Urabb that a "date for poisoning be fixed at tho January meeting, and that meanwhile tho Inspector ho asked to arrange with the settlers in Waituna and with tho Kiwitea Council as to-tho best date. 1