A COUNTY "RATCATCHER.”

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3316, 21 October 1919, Page 5

A COUNTY "RATCATCHER.”

BIG GAME HUNTER APPLIES‘

A claim ‘to have hunted ev'e'l"y kind of animal in all ‘parts of ‘the world, from elephants to fleas was made by one "of the applicants for” the post of ex'ec“u’tive ofl“leer for Bedfordshire "under the Rats Order, 1918. ' Lord Anipthill, referring tovvthis par-tieulai-V applicant, said ‘the’ individual sent them a volume of interesfing adventures, but the Eoniamittee thought he. was too big a man to deal with rats. There were 26 applicants in all, including admirals. naval captains, eolonels, majors. captains, and eminent scientists. Captain Arthur Davis, Bed, fordshire Regiment, vvaes confirmed in the appointnnient at £3OO a,year, with £SO travelling expenses. Alclerman Bul'ridg‘e «thought ‘£7 a week an extraordinary amount to pay for a 1-at-catcher. "

Lord Ampthill said Captain_ Davis would not be a I'zl.‘f-ca.tchel', but an

ogqqniser of I'at—catchers,‘ J - (‘.ol(mc] Orlebar asked whether the duties included the destruction of S}ml'l‘o*.\'s. iHe I'egnrdr=.d fhaf as Ellmosf as important as -the desfinlctiou of rats.