The Rabbit Act.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4146, 23 June 1892, Page 2

The Rabbit Act.

. (To m Editor). Sib.-—Ths footnote appended to j'par;artiplo on the 20th ulti appears at first sight to be true., That it is not absolutely so is really demon* strable, for it must be borne in mind tbat the ultimate reason for our obedience to law is the fear of the : evil .whidb will ensue if we'disobey it. In fact, where the law imposes upon as unpleasant duties we perform tliem to avoid still, greater unpleasantness, So, where the lav, bids us follow a certain course of conduct the neglect ofwbioh we know will cause evil to happen, we obey from mixed motives. In the first place we render obedience from fear of the punishment the law will impose, in the second from fear of the evil whiob.altogetlier apart from the law, will ensue if we disobey. It follows then that as the evil in-creases-it being always conceded tbat we have that evil clearly before our minds—so does the necessity' for the enactment diminish, In the case of the rabbits-if notof the cholerait may well bo said that the evil rosults which will follow our negleot of them are so certain, so grievous, and have been so vividly brought before us that there is littleif any nee!d for the present statute.

However, the main point to which the article in question points is the vast and uncontrolled power' that is put into the bands ot the inspectors, Jk it said to their credit that instances of its abuse are very rare, if not entirely unknown, < Still, tl»e faot romaius that we who profess to bo a tree people are, as far as our properties are concerned, living under a despotism well nigh as absolute as that which exists in. Mm, A Babbit, Act may be necessary—but if so, let us havo one which will not so infringe oh every pnnoipleof freedom.' With apologies for occupying so rauob space, lamefo,, Reader,'