THE RABBIT PEST.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9647, 12 November 1909, Page 4

THE RABBIT PEST.

| In reply to a question the Hon. T. | Mackenzie stated in the House of | Representatives that the officers of the Agricultural Department are sparing no pains to cope with the rabbit pest. Usually at this season of the year an increase in the number of rabbits is observable, but the Government is assured that there has been wo abnormal development recently in this direction. Further inquiries, however, are being made. Mr W. C. Buchanan. M.P. for Wairaraf a. in discussing the question, held j thai U.e ir»:recse in the numners of

the pest was due to the laxity of the Agricultural Department. Mr Buchanan went on to say that the Department had alsu been lax in regard to noxious weeds. He did not hold the Minister responsible for the present position of affairs, as he had not been long in charge ""of the Department. It was a great injustice to thoae who kept their lands clear of rabbits for the Department to be neglectful in this matter. The Hon. T Mackenzie said that if there was room for complaint, tha officers of the Department, and not the Minister, were responsible. There were ampie men in the employment of the Service to do the work. In regard to transfers, he had given instructions that unless there was some justification, no man should be transferred from a district where he was familiar with t'he work. There were in the Service, he knew, men wlm w .re dis loyal. He would see tuat strict inquiries were made wherever it was notified that an increase of rabbits had taken place. Then if the work were not carried out properly someone would be required to give a satisfactory explanation.