THE BABBIT NUISANCE BILL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5438, 31 August 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE BABBIT NUISANCE BILL

This Bill, introduced by the Hon. Colonel ■Whitmore, states in the preamble that it is expedient to make provision for the destruction of rabbits in New Zealand, It repeals the Babbit Nuisance Acts of 1876 and 1877, Bower is given to the Government to create, alter,-or abolish districts, and when any district under the Act is constituted the following provisions shall apply The Governor shall appoint some person to make up a roll or electors as nearly as may be according to the provisions of this Act; and the roll so made up shall be deemed to be the' electors’ roll until afresh roll is made as by this Act provided. The Governor shall appoint a returning officer to hold the first election of trustees, and shall appoint the . day or days for such elections. The Governor shall appoint the day for the first meeting of the trustees, and shall have full power to do all things of what kind soever necessary to provide for bringing this Act into operation in such district, according to the true intent and purpose of this Act. Every person within the district whoso name appears on the landowners’ fist shall be an elector, and entitled to one vote in the election of trustees, who are to be annually elected, and in case of failure to elect, the Governor may appoint. It shall be lawful for the trustees to levy in each year a rate of one halfpenny per acre. For the purpose of levying such rate and forming a landowners' list, the trustees shall in a 4 t>ry year cause to be made out a list, to be called the “landowners’ list,” of every landowner in the district, with the quantity of land held, occupied, or owned by such landowner, and shall deposit Such list, or a true copy thereof, in some convenient place in the district for inspection without fee. The trustees shall, not leas than ten days before making any rate, publicly notify their intention to make such rate, and the place where such landowners’ list is deposited, and in such notice they shall appoint a day and place on and at which they will sit to hear objections, and finally complete such list and levy the rate. Any person who considers himself aggrieved may object, and the trustees are to hear and determine the objections. If the trustees shall have.reason to' believe that there are rabbits in a wild state upon any lands within the district, and that the owner or occupier of such lands neglects or refuses to destroy the same, the said trustees shall by notice in writing require him or his authorised agent on his behalf to do so; and if after ten days such poticis be ne'glecfed o'r not cbtoplisd with, or

no efficient stops be taken to carry out such notice, then it shall bo lawful for any person authorial.**! in writing in that behalf by the trustees to enter upon the saM Hods and to u*e all such means, excluding pohon without the owner’s consent, and take all such measures us may be necessary for taking or destroying any rabbits which may be found upon such lands, and all such persons may take away and remove from the said land* the said rabbits or any part thereof: Provided that nothing contained in the Act shall exempt any person acting in pursuance of the powers hereby conferred from any liability for damage occasioned by his wilful act or default. Persons authorised may enter upon lands in order to scorch for rabbits. A chairman, treasurer, and collector are to be appointed, and accounts are to be kept and opened for inspection. All monies received are to bo paid into a bank,' and the accounts arcs to be audited in January each year by an auditor appointed by the Governor. A statement of accounts is to bo prepared annually. Persons wilfully obstructing the trustees are liable for each offence to a penalty not exceeding £2O. It shall bo lawful for the Colonial Treasurer to issue and pay, out of the moneys appropriated for‘that purpose by the General Assembly, to any person, for every r.ibbit skin exported from the colony by such person, the sum of one halfpenny per skin : tlurt such person shall first, prove to the satisfaction of the principal officer of Customs P»t the port where such skin is exported that the skin exported is that of a rabbit taken or destroyed within a district constituted under the said Act or this Act. If any person shall knowingly and wilfully liberate in any part of the colony any live rabbit or rabbits, the person so offending shall upon conviction kofore any two justices, and at their discretion, be liable to be committed to gaol with or without hard labor f.»r any term not exceeding six months, or to forfeit and pay a penalty'not exceeding fifty pounds. All dogs kept by the trustees or duly certified by them as kept solely for the purpose of destroying rabbits shall be exempt from fee or charge on registration under' any Act or Ordinance in force within the district. Whenever under the provisions of this Act the trustees, by themselves or their duly authorised agents, shall have entered upon lauds for the destruction of rabbits, which destruction has been neglected by the landowners of the same, the landowners having so neglected shall be liable to the trustces for the net cost incurred from time to time in the process ; the amount so due may bo recovered by the trustees in any court of competent jurisdiction. Notice of every election or appointment of a trustee shall be gazetted, and the Gazette containing such notice shall be conclusive evidence that the person, notice of whose election or appointment is gazetted, has been duly elected or appointed a trustee. . .