KEEPING PET RABBITS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 542, 27 May 1933, Page 3

KEEPING PET RABBITS

A COMPLICATED BUSINESS SUBJECT TO MANY ; RESTRICTIONS. It seems highly prohable that many people who keep pet rabbits are unaware of the restrictions by which the Government seeks to ensure that they do not escape to assist in the depredations of their wilder brethren. There are stringent regulations on the subject, and drastic penalties for those who fail to comply with them. Under the Animals Proteetion and Game Act, 1921,22, it is laid down that a p'erson, before introducing into New Zealand, whether as a pet or , otherwise, "any mammal or bird (not being a domestic animal or bird)" must secure the consent of the Minister. The comparatively recent adoption [ by many people of th'e keeping of An.gora and other rabbits for the value - of their coats, brought forth the Rahbit Nuisance Act of 1928, and it is against the provisions of this Act that • many keepers of rabbits, white or otherwise, may be offending. This Act provides a penalty of £5 or six months ; imprisonment for any person who lets rabbits loose in ia.ny part of New Zealand, or removes live rabbits from one part of the country and liberates themin another. No p'erson, the Act says, may keep live rabbits in his possession without first obtaining a permit frona the Minister, who may grant a permit (if he thinks fit) for such period and upon such conditions as may please him. Should one omit, in ign.or.ance or otherwise, to obtain the Minister's permit, there is the substantial penalty of a fine of £20 provided for the delinquent. When it comes to importing, or attempting to import, rabbits without letting the Minister know all about it first and obtaining his permission, there is a penalty of £50 for the evildoer. The Act makes it quite clear that no p-ermits to import rabbits will be granted unless the desired bunny happens to he of Angora, Chinchilla, or one or two other specified breeds. A permit from the Minister pf Agriculture to import a rabbit is not a permit to keep a rabbit. An importer of a rabbit must get a permit to do so, and a further permit to keep it when imported. If, however, he does not intend to keep the rabbit or rabbits when imported, it is his duty to see th'ati the p-ersons to whom he disposes it or them has a permit.^ Then further complications arise. Special provisions deal with the hous- 1 ing of rabbit communities of under twelve, and they become more stringent when the family is larger, all of course, being designed to obviate as far as possible the risk of any rabbits escaping. If any boy or girls wants to keep a white rabbit (not for breeding), and if his parents are agreeable, the Minister charges no fee for his permit. If, however, the' rabbit is kept for breeding pmrposes, the permit will cost £1, and defiance of the law may cost up to £20. Actually, the requirements of the Act imposed no hardship on hreeders, being reasonable, and undoubtedly ferences if required.— Write No. necessary. • Thq inspectors were ,also found to he very reasonable.