A DOUBTFUL INDUSTRY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9091, 18 May 1908, Page 4

A DOUBTFUL INDUSTRY.

For some time past a movement has been on foot in Auckland to establish a rabbit freezing industry, and it is now definitely announced that a private company, after going fully into the question of the probable supply, has decided to commence freezing for export early next season. Although this is not the first step in the industry in New Zealand, a considerable amount of discussion as to the wisdom of the movement has been evoked. It is well-known that i'rabbit freezing has been in existence in the South Island for some time, but the conditions there are somewhat different to those in the north. The rabbits began to make their appearance in large tracks of poor country, and before the seriousness of the position was realised they had multiplied in such numbers that it was impossible to eradicate them. In the course of time commercial men of enterprise saw money in rabbit freezing, and now during a certain period of the year they receive thousands of rabbits per week from trappers, who likewise make good money in the'business. The point is now that the South Island is growing rabbitsi for freezing purposes, and although the industry may be profitable, in our opinion it is not a healthy one. When rabbits for freezing purposes are requited they must be trapped in a neighbourhood where no poisoning is done, as there is a danger of poisoned rabbits getting on the market. Trapping takes the place of poisoning where rabbits for freezing are required, and as poisoning in the quicker inethor, the rabbits cannot be kept in check even as they would be were poison resorted to. The rabbit is regarded by the Government as a pest, and they have spent many thousands of pounds all over the dominion trying to keep it from spreading. If rabbit freezing wers an assistance to them

we believe they would be the first to advocate the establishment of industries in every part where rabbits are plentiful. The whole question should be carefully considered by the Government, and if it be found that the rabbit "industry" tends to interfere with the prosperity of immensely larger and more natural industries then it should be discouraged with a firm hand. It is useless, indeed worse, for the Government on the one hand to expend thousands and thousands of pounds assisting the farmer, and on the other hand, to calmly watch the establishment of an industry that seems to tend to destroy what they have been at so much trouble to create.