THE RABBIT DANGER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2560, 26 September 1893, Page 1

THE RABBIT DANGER.

Mr Reginald Foatw writes to a contemporary as follows : Notwithstanding tj\e large amount of money that has been expended by Government during the last six years in the erection and maintenance of rabbit-proof feaoing for the protection 'of South Oadterbury, the distriot now ia in a critical position. The fence, I believe, has done even more than was expected of it, bu,t apparently nothing further ha& keen done. Main lines of rabbit fencing, while intended to check the spread of rabbbits, should also be looked upon aa bases from which to start branch lines. In the Amuri and Awatere dietriotß some hundreds of miles of rabbit fencing have been erected on this principle, but South Canterbury has not erected even one mile. History repeats itself, and it is certainly doing so in +t ', instance. In the past, wherever - disfcr^t has been threatened b* bbit the XIL !?- I>eal^d uutil [t was will *' " e farmer Bavs that rabbita v- jver injure him ; but let him aßk »us brother farmers in Otago, Southland, and Marlborough. The leaseholder from the Crown says, "If I can keep them down so that they will not hurt my feed until the end of my lease, I don't care," and so nothing is done. It has been Btated in the papers that the Hon J. McKenzie intends to insist upon landowners destroying their rabbits, and no doubt thia is very necessary. But increased jenergy on the part of the rabbit inspectors means an inevitable spreadiug of the rabbits, for whatever means are taken to destroy them results in the scattering of the sarvivors. Rabbiters work during ,the day ; rabbits travel during the night; jand this latter fact is the greatest trouble that has to be met in dealing with the pest. The position now is, in my opinion, that nothing can save South Canterbury but thß immediate erection of several lines of rabbit fencing connecting with the present main line. It is ; uot too late for this, because by prompt and energetic action the rabbits between these lines could be reduced to a minimum. If only those interested would see the wisdom of putting two or even three years' expenditure into one, and get these fences erected without delay, they would break the back of the rabbit difficulty. A rate of £d per sheep on all flocks over 500 in number between the rabbit fence and the Rangitata with j» £ for £ Government subsidy, would produce sufficient to erect and maintain for three years, 120 miles of fencing, after which a rate of |d would be sufficient. Central Canterbury ought to contribute towards this work. Any delay now will mean bitter regret in the future.