WILD PIG MENACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1922, Page 5

WILD PIG MENACE.

CAUSES LOSS TO FARMERS. DANGER AGAIN EMPHASISED. (By Wire —Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The Government was to-day attacked by Mr. R. Masters (Stratford) for having done nothing to kill off the wild pigs that were doing great damage in the backblocks of Taranaki. Mr. Masters said that one farmer in the district had lost only 15 per cent, of his lambs in one part of his run, but 60 per cent, in another, where his land was nearer the haunts of the wild pigs. If the Government acknowledged that it should assist in keeping down rabbits and in preventing damage done by deer, it should also admit its duty to have wild pigs destroyed. The increase in the number of wild pigs was accounted for in part by the fact that so many men bad been to the war from the backblocks and left the pigs for a time in peace. The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Nosworthy) said it was the duty of * farmer to make a strong effort to keep down pests on his own land. It was the Government’s duty to keep down pests on reserves and Crown lands, and the Government would fulfil that duty. The damage by pigs had been brought to his notice so recently that he had not yet had time to do anything. He would do his part, but those who held lands adjoining Crown lands would have to do theirs. Mr. Masters: That is all we want.

Mr. K. Williams (Bay of Plenty) said he admitted that the reserves held by the Crown were necessary, and were, in fact, a very good thing for the country. He did not admit, however, that if pigs were increasing on the reserves the settlers on adjoining lands should be left to suppress them alone.