OVERRUN WITH RABBITS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 23, 21 October 1921, Page 8

OVERRUN WITH RABBITS

SETTLERS’ GRIEVANCE

CROWN LANDS A BREEDING CENTRE

The following petition has been addressed to tho Minister of Landij, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and members of the Wellington Land Board: — ’’We respectfully beg to bring under your notice that millions of rabbits are being bled (one might almost think being actually iarmeu) upon the pastoral lease country at Waioru, which comprises 135,009 acres. ’J his also applies to the many more thousands of acres further back, some ot which certainly is Native land, but the bulk of which is Crown lauds.

’’Particularly in reference io the VVaioru pustcral leasehold lands, they were some time ago leased by the Wellington Land Board. The tenants were prosecuted for not destroying the rabbits and were fined .040. Unless the Crown subsequently see& that the destruction of the rabbits is proceeded with, this, of course, is only a farce, as will be .seen by compel ison with the expense to which adjoining owners are put in fighting the pest as per the figures below. However, the tenants did nothing, nor were they forced to do anything-, ami tho result is that country that used to carry up to 28,000 sheep now carries none. And the only reason is rabbits—rabbits to cope vrlth which no steps are being taken. "These pastoral leases seem io have followed the general custom of these times of becoming the medium of land s] eeulation. The original tenants sold out, wo understand, for .£15,009 cash, to a wealthy Auckland speculator, and although this purchaser did make some small aitempt to check the evil, nothing effectual was accomplished nor was he eontpclliHl to do anything. He was, however, permitted to sell to well known Gisborne squatters, he also presumably making profit out of the transaction. ‘lhe rabbits are, in the meantime, increasing and multiplying, and we as adjoining owners are now wondering whether the existing state of affairs is t’> lie allowed to continue. "In the aggregate the adjoining owners are spending up to 4:3000 annually to protect their properties from this pestilent horde, Morrison and Son alone in one year expending A’7oo in this direction with an average expenditure of 41500 for the last four years. Tho whole of this expenditure is caused by the rabbits bred on the pastoral leases referred to ami adjoining lands. The Land Board has its statutory powers to compel its tenants to fight tho rabbit pest, but apparently, judging from past experience, it is not willing to exercise its powers. In the meantime, we, your petitioners, are suffering such injustice that we ore compelled in our own interests to take some action. Moreover, it is just as necessary for tho protection of the Crown lands as for the protection of ours that some drastiexnetion should be taken and immediately at that. are endeavouring to <ll our duty, and ask the Department to do theirs.

“The position so far as wo are concerned Is outrageously unjust. Up to the present, our many'efforts and representations have been without any result, and such a state of affairs should be given the greatest publicity, even if onh' to wake those responsible for the present condition of affairs to a full sense of their duties, not only to the Department for whom they administer, but also the community in general. "We, your petitioners, humbly pray that these representations will bo immediately considered by you, and that immediate steps will be taken to cope with a danger that cannot be over-estimnted. “(Signed) G. IV. Batley, Emily Bailey (per attorney G. W. Batley), S. V. Burridge, A. G. Morrison, P. P. M. Morrison, A. G. Morrison.”