MUSKRAT MENACE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1933, Page 7

MUSKRAT MENACE

TR APPERS CULM BATING DANGER

LONDON, December 8

Earl do la. Whit (Parliamentary Secretary, Minister of Agriculture),, replying to a question in the House of Lord,--., sard that the Ministry was alive to the grave' danger with which this country we is, laced if we were going to have an infestation of musk rats, and they were determined to do everything in their power to prevent that.

'1 he AlinisTv had thirty ' trappers working in the Shropshire area, where file musk rat menace was most dangermi--., and they were catching from 60 to 80 rats a week. The smallness of the figure might- astound the House, but ho would point out th e trappers were working from the outside of the area, where the rats were scarce.

rt wars hoped that the trail-pens would reach the centre of the area affected before next summer. Th e Ministry would consider the advisability of increasing the number of trappers. A well-known. German expert had offered to come to this country in order to assist in 'training trap-pens. “We are not- happy about the situation,” lie added, “but we are satisfied that everything that we can do is being done/’

Tlie Archbishop of Canterbury, as a trustee of the British Museum, suggested that- a- complete survey of the' whole country should be undertaken, Tt seemed to him that the local authorities had not yet realised the gravity of the situation.