THE RABBIT PEST

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2422, 30 March 1915, Page 8

THE RABBIT PEST

INCREASE REPORTED— DRASTIC ACTION URGED. Inquiries made recently, says an 'Auckland paper, show that the rabbit pest is distinctly on the increase in the upper and .mid-Waikato districts, and that' the menace is becoming very serious. One interested in agriculture, who has recently returned from a tour of the Auckland Province, stated that the rabbits are increasing, not only in the districts mentioned, but even in the localities comparatively near to the city. Reports from the north indicate that districts hitherto immune have been invaded. Either the inspectors have not been using their poiyers to see that the • clauses of the Rabbit Act are enforced, declared the speaker, or else, for soma reason or other, the season has '.been exceptionally favourable to the increase of the rabbifs. The very dry winter : 'v,we had last year would account for their increased breeding returns, or rather, for the reduced death percentage which is generally caused by. winter floods. ' • "The losses due to the depredations of , the rabbits," continued l the speaker, "are sufficiently serious to warrant very energetic stejjs being taken' towards their destruction. During the summer - months, and while feed is comparatively abundant, rabbit poisoning is not likely to be very successful, but it is to bo hoped that the Government inspectors, acting in conjunction with the farmers in the infected; districts, will make strenuous efforts through the coming winter to carry out extensive poisoning. It is also desirable that . something should be done to more generally cope with the rabbits on Crown and Native lands." Continuing, the speaker, said ho considered the people concerned—the Government actiug in co-operation with the settlers —should combine at a particular time throughout a whole district and'carry out systematic poisoning. "The simplest method of all to get .rid of the pest," he added, "is, of course, the promotion of the settlement of. people on small farms." Ail Auckland merchant said that lie had received heavy orders from farmers recently for rabbit poison. The requests came from the South of Auckland principally, and covered the bulk of the iWaiiato. .

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