THE RABBIT ACT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10208, 8 April 1911, Page 6

THE RABBIT ACT.

A NATIVE FINED

In the Masterton Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr T. C. Webb, Rabbit Inspector, proceeded against Piripi Waaka, a native, on a charge of having' failed to obey an order of the Court to destroy rabbits on his property. An agreement had been made with a farmer (Mr R. McCrae) to supervise the "poisoning operations. Defendant's foreman stopped the work before the whole property Had been treated, without the supervisor's authority. The weather had been very favoiirable for poisoning. The work that was done on the property was very unsatisfactory. -. Mr G. T. Elers acted as interpreter in the case. Evidence ws.given by Mr McCrae, and A. F. Wi'son, as to the bad work done. Some pla-ces were poisoned well, others indifferently, and some not at all. Mr Tate, for the defendant, stated that he (defendant) had done his best, but his best was not good enough. He now proposed to put the work in the hands of the Department and he would find the cost. Piripi Waaka stated that he had got of poison. McCrae did not tell him the work was good. Witness told the men to stop working because the other owners surrounding him had stopped. Considering that defendant was prepared to find the money to continue poisoning, the minimum fine of £5 was [ imposed, with costs 9s.