THE RABBIT QUESTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3325, 3 October 1889, Page 2

THE RABBIT QUESTION.

MrE. Clifton's Evidence Before the Parliamentary Committee' ' The Chairmau: You ava inspector for Wairarapa ?—Yes; for Wellington West Coast Sheep District, Would you give this committee the state of the country in that district in regard to rabbits? Yes, It would perhaps be better if I wore to divide tho district into two parts, taking North Wairarapa first, There has never been any attempt to introduce the natural enemy to any appreciable extent there.

Hon Mr Miller: What is tho boim-, dary of North Wairarapa? Its southern boundary commences at the j mouth of tho Kaiwhata river, and thon takes a generally north western direction to the Tararuas, audfollowß this range to Hawke's Bay boundary. Does it take in Greytown? No. Groytown is in South Wairarapa. It appoara that in North Wairarapa the people were made to work in keeping the rabbits down, and tho consequence was that so long as they worked they were kept in check, but immediately the work was relaxed the rabbits increased again. Last autumn tho rabbits were exceedingly numerous. I same to this district in October last, and before any action was taken it was considered expedient to leave it until it could be properly attacked by a systematic poisoning. This has been done most successfully, and in following it. up I have instituted numerous proceedings under the Babbit Act, I now hope the rabbits will bo kept in something like check until tho natural enemy is introduced and this is being done under the provisions of the Act by a Rabbit Board. Hon tho Chairman: Is that Board formed ? It is being formed,

In the South Wairarapa a great many rabbits havo been destroyed by the clearing tlio country of scrub and the introduction of tho natural enemy To show the good effect the introduction of tho natural onemy has, I may state that the peoplo wore so satisfied that they abandoned introducing any more; now the rabbits are on the increaso agaiu, and several prosecutions have been instituted,

When do you say tliey havo increased ? Throughout last autumn. You consider poisoning and tho introduction oi the natural enemy, are the best remedies? I think poisoning, introduction of the natural enemy, and rabbit proof fencing are the best remedies, but tho three must go together. Are you in favor of wire not fencing? Certainly after seeing the good results of it. Do you think it'will absolutely stop rabbits ? It does on somo instances where it is properly attended to.

In your opinion it requires constant attention? Yes, In regard to tho wire netted fencing I may refer to instances in the South Island, where it was absolutely impossible to keep the rabbits down without it.

Where was this ? In Marlborough. I should like to mention Mr liuller, of Kaikoura, who owns part of tho Kiikoura peninsula, where, year after year, 15,000 rabbits woro taken. Ho fenced his land across from sea to sea, and since then ho has had nothing to do boyond a man attending to thefence and sometimes destroying a young rabbit, I would also mention a place in the Awatere, in Marlborough, infested to such an extent and the sheep so reduced, that there was no proGt tillwire-notted fencing | was erected, Two years later the manager reported an increase of wool |by tons. This increase was Quoted during the heaving of a lawsuit at Blenheim.

Do you know Mr Coleman Phillips?. Yes. Is Ins. country free from rabbits 1 About March lie was killing fifty' or sixty a month. Ho is, I understand, a believer in the rabbit diseaso. Yes.

What is your opinion about it? I have seon traces of the bladder flulto from Wairarapa to Southland, but it does not seem to bo of much effect, Mr Lanco; The same disease as in the Wairarapa. Yes, the same.

Hon, the Chairman: What is your opinion about trapping? I only wish it were possible to prohibit altogether. It destroys tbo natural enemy? Yes.

Hon. Mr Miller: Which is the best, in your opinion, stoats, ferrets, or weasols 1 I can scarcely tell, because, so far as stoats and weasels aro concerned, they have mostly been turned out in the far-back country, and there has been little or no opportunity of judging how thoy havp got along; but 1 should say the weasel and stoat are mora desirable, becauso they are stronger than the ferret and not so liable to distemper, Do you think, if you turned out the whole threo before poisoning in a limited place thoy would practically diminish the rabbits ? It would depend greatly upontho nattno of the place,

' ' Can you got nd of tljp rabbits without poisoning ] No.

You mean to say you cannot keep them down without? No; they must first be reduced by poison. ■ But you cannot' poison everywhere 1 I know of no country where it would bo impossible to poison; but ill the back country, on high, long, flat-topped ranges, as about Dunstan, snow may be 20ft deep. Therprabbiis are destroyed almost as much'by' poisoning, and in spring their skeletons are seen about the crevices of the rooks.

Mr Lanco: And at Malvern Hills? Yes,

Hon Mr Miller: Do you know of -^ v instance where the natural enemies have done ciania££!? ' am J>S 1 So far, npno at all. Are'tlicJe not installed? of their having done damage to poultry? I have known of ferrets destroying fowls, but this is done as a- rule by the tamo ones that have been liberated about homesteads.

Is there any possibility of them increasing to be a worse pest than rabbits?. No.

Would th'oy die out if tjio rijljbjts died out? Yes, I think sol

Mr lanco i Is the department doing anything in regard to the breeding of ferrets ? No.

Nothing is being done in the colony? No. Why has it been put a stop to ? 1 am unable to say. I applied for permission to breed some. ' Hg?(ijig H!!li# of the deparhnent given any reasons for- atoppjiju the supply ? I am aware of none, ~ Do you" not think it would be a good thing to encourage the breeding of ferrets? Most decidedly.' Until we eilcourdgfc the bidding; of ferrets and introduce stoats and-weasels'we shall hot make any real progress, and with the assistance of the Act where settlers are negligent I believe rabbits ;cau.J}e kept down. My experience is, the moment prosecutions are aba'ti-

donod tho rabbits increase agaiu. and to ft greater number than koforo if tho natural onoray is not introduced. Hon Mr Wigley: Did you see a circular about rabbits issued in Australia, killing off tho does ? Yes.

I am luformod that about Lake Wanaka tho rabbits wore considerably diminished last year: do you know the cause of it ? Is it owing to the .natural, enemy or the survival of tho fittest? When you taku an isolated area like that iUp not safe to say what the reasons In some instances rabbits seem' io take to or leave a place inexplicably,

Mr Buchanan: In evidence which came before this Committee some days ago wo were told that tho number of tlienaturalonemy liberated « in South Wairarapa was about a thousand, besides stoats and weasels. Have you any nieanV of knowing what is the correct number ? No, no more than I understood that was so. Now as to North Wairardjk , Would you be surprised to learn, that number was increased ? That may be, and on account of the owners of property trapping. Ferrets in North Wairarapa never had a fair chance; if one man turned them out his next neighbour would bo trapping or using large packs of dogs, Would you be surprised to learn that on Brancepeth alone a larger number Wero turned out than in South Wairarapa altogether ? Yes, I should be surprised. ~,,.., Are ynn aware, at Bowlajjifcand some of the larger runs, ferrovflbavo been turned out ? I knows considerable number was turned out, and wo also recognised the fact that trapping and hunting with large packs of dogs was carried on at tho same tituo, Would you be surprised to know, on some of the stations whero ferre's wero numerous.,once, they wero found dying with distempor, and found crawling about in a sickly, weak state? This has already happened in some places in tho South Island. When yon start puttiug ferrets out very many always disappear, After yen ; begiftliupg them out you must keep on doJc so every year, for a certain nuKbcr must bo turned out to keep up tho number, as losses occur through distemper.

_ Taking North Wairarapa, for instance.is it not possible that disease and trapping has been mainly instrumental in bringing them (ferrets) down? This may have been the case, and in tho North IslayWiUogether 1 think distemper lip off more than in the South. *'

I have hoard, in regard to those prosecutions, several complaints. Is it true that a farmer residing close to Tauherenibu, has been fined £o. There were two or three in Hint district fined.

Was not one of the persons so fined living close to Greytown ? There was one close to the river; but his frontage is on theTauhorenikau, and near Feat[<crston.

Do you know the amount ol the ■finesinflicted? £5 each.

. Hnve you anything to say to the Committee as to the fairness of inflicting the same amount on all ? I think there should he a distinction between the small, farmer and the large runholder. -_. Have you any suggestion toTrtlfe so lliat a restriction could bo rnltdo m regard to the amount of the fines ? ■ I think it might bo loft to the discrotiou of the Resident Magistrate Mr Dodson: How high dp'S.tho fine up? ,£IOO. ..& Hon Mr Miller: You'sayyou would stop trapping if you could ? Yes, because so many of the natural enemy suffer; and the same applies to hunting with largo packs of dogs. Mr Lawry: I suppose it would ) Ibo to the interests of the rabbitev to kill the natiiral enemy? Yes. Do they breed tho first year ? 1 could not say.

Hon Mr Walker: Aro stoats and weasels subjects to distemper ? No; not so much as ferrets.

Hon the Chairman: Do you think there is any danger of their eating poisoned rabbits? Yes.' Mr Buchanan: What about poisoned larks ? A certain number of ferrets aro always found doad aftor poisoning, and it is not reasonable to expect otherwise when it is remembered that the rabbit, the food thoy live on, has been destroyed by poison, and that they eat tbo very last portion of what thoy find. , x Witness: I should like t'jjkk if ft wero possible todeviso son Jfoans of assisting the smaller ovwwto erect wire-netting fencing. It would bo beneficial if aid could bo given tlicin in the same way as under Local Bodies' Loans Act, making such advance a first charge on tlio property.

Hon the Chairman: Do you think it should bo mado a legal fenco? Yos, in rabbit-infested districts.

Would it not come expensive on the small owners ? I'hoycould keep their rabbits down. I daresay it would be a hardship in some cases. Witness: I would like to refer to clauso 18 of the Rabbit Nuisance Act 1882 Amendment AcV'Thfi difficulty is, the Board take over tho administration, but at the samo time it is stated in that clause that tho powers of the Chief Inspector are not interfered with, and by that section lio may bo hold responsible for the state of the rabbits in such distriot. in one instance I know of rabbits having increased since tho Rabbit Board was action should be taken in Mh .circiimstanow ' • •■

Hon. tho 'Chairman i What tifiTß ? About three years f* That is, during the last three )ears the rabbits have increased ? Yes, Is that district under your charge ? No, I spoke of it because apart of this district will shortly be under a Babbit tmm.