Peers Argue Best Way to Fight Rabbits

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 404, 12 July 1928, Page 9

Peers Argue Best Way to Fight Rabbits

Foxes, Traps, Poachers BILL REJECTED (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian P.A. — United Service) LONDON, Tuesday. The Government’s Rabbit Bill, to enable the authorities to exterminate rabbits when their depredations became serious, was defeated in the House of Lords to-day by 63 votes to 55. The Earl of Wemyss and March moved its rejection, describing it as a ridiculous bill. He opposed all the recommendations of the Select Committee, which, he said, were not designed to exterminate rabbits but to placate the Farmers’ Union. Lord Barling said the best way to reduce rabbits was to maintain a supply of foxes. The latter were more humane killers than steel traps. Earl Russell said the bill, if passed, would produce endless friction among landowners. If they sent poachers to exterminate the pest they would have a store of information for future use, if they sent an inspector he would be unable to shoot straight. Lord Clinton said all interested in forestry would support the bill. The Marquess of Salisbury, Leader of the House, said: Let it not be said that the Lords, who know more about the land than any assembly in the world, would refuse to remove rabbits and so avoid their depredations. Nevertheless the bill was defeated.