THE RABBIT QUESTION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1264, 21 May 1886, Page 2

THE RABBIT QUESTION.

The public meeting held at Cromwell on Saturday last to discuss the above subject, was well attended, and by the report in the “ Cromwell Argus,” from which we taka the following extracts, the question was intelligently 'dealt with, though there evidently was no great uniformity of thought. Mr Werner moved That the Governmeet hold an enquiry into the working of the Rabbit Act in Vincent County. Mr Marsh advanced the theory that population was the only practical solution of the difficulty. Mr Olds moved—That the Government should establish depots in various centres for the purchase of skins.

Mr William Fraser, County Chairman, ;abled the following resolutions : (1) That the responsibility for keeping the rabbits in check on occupied Crown lands devolves primarily on the occupiers thereof.

(2) That in consequence of the low value of rabbit skins, in conjunction with the ruinous prices for produce of all kinds, it is impossible for the occupiers of laud to bear unaided the entir ■ cost of destroying rabbits effec’nally throughout the year. (3) That the Government should defray a cer'ain portion of the cost of abating this evil, asapartfiom the consideration which it should have for the prosperity of its settlers, it is directly interested in the rabbit question as the landlord of a'valuable estate which is gradually but surely being depreciated. (4) That for tho foregoing reasons the Government he respectfully requested to recommend Parliament at its present sitting to grant a bonus of Id per skin on ail rabbit skins exported from the Colony, (5) That, in the event of th'S bonus being granted, the provisions of the Rabbit Act should be enforced most st'ingently against all occupiers of laud who fail in their du*y to continually keep ihe pest effectually in check. (6) That name efficient measures should be adopted for the future in regard to destroying rabbit! on unoccupied Crown lands and reserves.

Mr Fraser said it was useless to expect the Go eminent to {all in with Mr Olds’ resolution, which meant that thy would be going into the skin trade at a vesy large outlay of money, and run the lisk of not being able to sell the skins. ... It was nonsense to say that the squatters were in a great measure to blame for not allowing people lo roam at large on their runs rabbitting. He considers I that those who sowed should reap, and it would be unfair to allow men to come on the ground poisoned by others and collect the skins. He fi-m'y believed in the system of a bonus, and thought it would go a long way towards remedying the evil. Ju bis opinion the inspectors were too lenient, if anything. At the p"esent time it was impossible for a person living near nhoconpie I lands to keep the rabbits in ch-ck, but if a bonus was given it would encourage rabhitting wherever there were any to be found. Mr Marsh would support MrOlds’ proposition, as he considered it the most effectual. He had noticed in different papers nqi ices warning people from rabbitt.i'ng on runs, and thought that was poor encouragement. He considered that if depots were formed, in a shoit time the skins would ben come an article of exchange. From Mr Fr.ser’s plan it would appear that the squatters and la r ge land owners would .be the only ones who would benefit. j Mr Werner said he would support Mr r Fraser’s proposals provide! he inserted therein that the Act did not work satisfactorily. Mr Fraser did not agree with Mr Werner

in respect to the had working of the Act, and would not add such to his resolutions, as it would he against hit own cand d opinion. The fault was in the administration of the Aot. Mr S'colt Bought there was plenty of evidence as 'n th“ unsnitabi ! ity of the Act. Mr MTCcisie said he did not understand the motion thoroughly, as it did not appear to have any direct beating on the ques'ion. The amendment, bo-.'ever, was clear enough. He thought if ru> s were open to any persons for trapping, shooting, etc., there would he a large number destroyed, hut such a system was impracticable. In

fact, he know of a man at the Nevis being taken to Clyde some time ago and lined 1.10 for killing a rahhit on his clrim. Ho thought the amendment of Mr Fraser the

most sensible plan, and would second it accordingly. Mr Olds was quite agreeable to accept Mr Fraser’s amendment, and with the leave cf his seconder he would withdraw his motion. He thought that if Government paid a penny and landowners the other penny labor would soon be forthcoming to clear the conntty. The am-ndment was then put to the meeting and earned unanimously. It was af’erwards carried—That in tho opinion i f this meeting the working of the Rabbit Act in Vincent County is not satis* f Cory, and that Government be requested to appoint a Commission to hold enquiry at Ciomwell. The meeting then closed.