THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3838, 12 June 1875, Page 2

THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

The Select Committee of the Provincial Council, appointed to consider the above, last night reported as follows “ Your Committee have to report that they have sat Seven times, and taken a mass of evidence ot a valuable,na-1 ; ture, all of which testifies to the ruinous damage done through the ravages of the rabbit They arrive at the- following conclusions:—! That the evil maybe kept down Or within a 1-mit by repressive action. 2. That such action cannot be organised in an effective manner without Legislative authority, and that such legislation might be based upon the following suggestions:-(«) That in settled, districts wherein the machinery of Road Boards exists, the same should be used for the; election of a committee as under, and for the assessment of property and the collection of rates, (b) That , such a committee may be elected- or appointed in districts outside of Road Board ones for the purpose of dealing generally with the rabbitnuisance, (c) That all these committeesshould have compulsory rating, powers:given to .them, iso 'that they (may be abler to take due action when the Road Board : system is unable to be used. ,(d) That these committees, should be-authorised,to create ;a fund, the proceeds thereof to be devoted to purposes decided upon for the destruction of ; rabbits, and ■ that they •be empowered to ; offer rewards, and to pay for each rabbit skin .- produced and, caught within the boundaries of the district over which such commute has control, a. prices for. each such skin, or otherwise J , ® wa J’d the catcher and destroyer of rabbits. (e) That the' Government, sbohld be required to pay such committee a bonus of 4d per skin so collected by them. (/) That the committee shall have power “to sell or export such skins for sale, and that the proceeds thereof shall form part of the common.fund of such committee, (g) That such committee be authorised to introduce , weasels or other animals necessary for the purr pose of putting 'down the nuisance. / {h) That gunpowder and shot obtained by aiiy such Committee for the purpose of redistribution should have the duty paid upon it refunded by the Provincial Government, and that sucl} Committees be empowered to issue the said powder aua- allot, 3. That clio evidence taken shows ; that the landed estate of the Province under lease to the pastoral tenants is becoming much depreciated in value wherever rabbits are found to exist, and that such depreciation in value of the public lands being a matter fraught with serious consequences is therefore one demanding the earnest and immediate consideration of the Council.