THE RABBIT PEST.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8312, 15 December 1906, Page 5

THE RABBIT PEST.

By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, December 13. / Mr Col«mau Phillips, who takes considerable interest in all methods advocated for the suppression of the rabbit: pest, passed through Dunedn yesterday, en route for his home at Wairarapa, after a visit to New South Wales. Daring his brief stay in Dunedin, ( Mr Phillips informed a represents-' tive of the Otago Daily Times tha* ttie rabbit difficulty has groused the serious attention or pastoralists and farmers in Australia, and there of the Danysz experiments at Bronghton island are being matched with close interest. These experiments are confined* to the spread of a pasteurella among rabbits, the pasteurella being a disease akin to oniuken cholera, which had little effect in reducing the number of rabbits. Mr Phillips does not expect great results from the experiments, and pins his faith as heretofore, to the methods adopted in New Zealand, viz., the introduction and spread of natural enemies and the effect of natural diseases or the use of netting, trapping or poisoning. In Australia rabbits are increasing in number with the growth of food after the drought, and Mr Phillips estimates that in a short time they will bo swarming again. He estimates that over a million a year is being expended in Australia in rabbit suppression, without any beneficial,! result, and is convinced that until " Australia goes on the same lines as New Zealand the rabbit will have the upper hand.