THE RABBIT PEST.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 October 1919, Page 5

THE RABBIT PEST.

POVVI-IRS OF 'I‘:I-IE NEVV ACT. -—--.E.‘l—--n There has been a decided increase in. the rabbit pest, both in the North and Soutli Island. Several cans-es, says the report of the Agricultural Department_. have been accountable for rhis, and seareitly loflabour, owing" to‘ war conditions has principally been put forward by'dila'tory owners and others as one of ’th-e"main causes for this inerease. Still,"it is always to be noticed that at’ a eertain time, when .trapping~for export} and canning beeol‘nes'pay.a.ble, men can be found in nunibers to take ‘up the work ‘of destruction: In Central Otago freezing and "other canning works have been established, and as these no doubt bring in a large amount of revenue locally, they are naturally looked upon as a Benefit by all and sundry. Consequently owners had a grea.t diflieulty in securing men at the proper time for laying poison. The latter do not care to enter on such :1 work, preferring to wait a few months, when they know they can make much larger sums by trapping.

Many owners appear to make this’ want of _men a strong excuse. for not at. } tending to their rabbits, but at the saine time, they do not hesitate to‘ accept a bonus from interested parties ‘ for the right of trapping on their; lands. This has a.lso a serious effect. on other kinds of labour, on ace—olmi' of i the high wages made. i The controversy of trapping versus‘ poisoning, and other ways of destruction still continues, and it is o'£t‘é'n sug3 gested that the export of c:”u'c«ases and skins of rabbits should be strictly prohibited. It is a, question for‘consideration, but diifieu.lt to bring into equit-ii able practice on account of heavy Vest- 1 ed int-el'ests. Land-owners seem slow: to see the vast harm done to their properties by the pest. .Cel"r.ainly, enormous .numb Cl's of rabbits are destroyed by trapping, and it would, on superficial judgment, appear that such would be a good course to pursue, but it has been decidedly shown that the reverse is the case. Poisoning by phosphorized pollard and oats is still recognised by the experienced owners as being the cheapest and most effective means of dealing wiih the pest. Where this can be, and is, suppiemented by other means, and by a system of wire-netting, the pest spicedily becomes a thing of the past. However. the price of netting is now so prohibitive that few can afi:'ord the expense. The question of supplying netting to farmers, under some easy terms of repayment is Worthy of consideration when opportunity occurs, 2 Destroying exovers and burrows is ialso a material help. The new Act provides foi‘ he:—wJ'cl' {penalties in cases of neglect, and the ipowers of an inspector are increa.se(]. §’l‘his, it is certain will not be abused, ] and will give the in-specter greater eon- } fidence in administering the Act. Most ‘of the inspectors are now experienced, land ca;;‘l'y out their xoften unplca.s.;m_t I duties with zeal, tact, and ‘discretion.