The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1882. THE RABBIT BILL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1165, 30 August 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1882. THE RABBIT BILL.

, The Rabbit Nuisance Bill of 1882 is a marked improvement on.its predecessor of last year. The measure of 1881 was hurried 'through Parliament and it was not discovered till it became law. that it possessed serious defects,. The new Bill, however, is quite as arbitrary as the Act which it' is intended to supersede, The rabbit evil is such a serious one tl at no permissive powers are adequate to cope with it. A strong repressive measure is virtually a benevolence,to landowners, both small and large, prilling tjjongk they may be to submit to it, ft fs proposed that the new Act shall (Jperate fpr three years, ac the expiration of whicty p.ei?io,U it is hoped that by continuous arid systematic action the plugae will be. stayed. The rabbit rate under the old Act is B%i>doned, and the foolish prosecutions fltgajnst ;lapd owners for not clearing their laiid syit))iri pvep %s is done : away with. The effect Qf these proceedings haye been to pilot ssajl farmers )f the njoney they needed for the . extermination of the pest. The new law makes ' it : incum- ! bent for each landowner to destroy his rabbits at all times and seasons—if he , does not do bo the inspector steps "in- - and does the work for him,'charging him with the cost of destruction. This places great power in the hands of in-

jjiectoi?,: I»ut v it, will?|ie ; that a; few iyetivs ago jv.hen' |®3||e] plagud swepji Engliaritl, lute'discretionaiylpowefe wes£ivet( toi j inspectors,;whick enabled "tnejti S flict ffreater losses on* the' owners'or „ stock than any rabbit inspector can exercise on the owners of rabbit runs. Aa a t rule, the p,ower given to inspectors will no cloub'fcW exqnMct''witVtp^u'*, vidual cases severe )e endiircd- at their hands, is inevitable! Tlie AcF proyiclea'fpr dealing witlr neglected and unownetj lands, and for the cost of' destruction as between, landlord and tenant! oJ short leases.; I ,'Jt "also protects 1 the rntural enemy of the rabbit, the invidous task |of iffirmiiig'' animals an their riatiiral enemies being left to the Governor,- We-do not expedt the treasure to be popular, but we can excuse it if it is efficient; Government) as. it were, take a contact to destroy all the rabbits in the colony within ■ the space of three years, and if they can do this let them do it by all means;- r not' begrudge The more power given them the greater will be the chance of their work being completed. . ..Wo freely, admit f that it will not be Accomplished subjecting many landed proprietor ous privations, but the end will justify the means, provided, that 1 " the' end] be obtained. In this'district last year's Act has prepared settlers! for a,, 'measure like the one now before Parliament. The transition' will. not jbe difficult, and the result, we feel assured, will be the practical extermination jof the pest, "' ' ; ' j - - ]