THE RABBIT QUESTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2211, 9 September 1886, Page 3

THE RABBIT QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir. — A considerable amount of correspondence has appealed in your columns in reference to the above question, and it will no doubt have been observed that all, or nearly all the writers who object to the Government expenditiue in thi-> (iiiection place considerable stress upon such points as "the rabbits are handy for the put, a souice of re\enue, no complaints were being made, so many wero being killed per week."' Piecisely, and it .stands to reason that any interference with this source of revenue, whethei by the Government or otherwise, becomes a serious n.atter, and one not to be put up with without remonstrance. But there are other interest* to be considered, and the Government (probably in an unguarded moment) has decided that thinning the rabbits in Waikato would benefit the settlers and landowners, and all those who have any interests m the district will cordially endorse its action. The only drawback appeals to be that the powers of the inspector are not extended so that hares, sparrows, etc., might be brought under the influence of phosphorised oats, or some other suitable preparation. The fact is, and every old settler will agree with me, that to make a living out of the land in Waikato is every year becoming more difficult. Not so much because of the lowered price of farm produce as owing to the numerous imported pests which the agriculturist has to face, whether his operations aie conducted in the orchard, garden, or the Held, and d-> mi old, and I trust permanent settlei in Waikato, I hope the Government will spend hundreds, and, if necessary, thousands of pounds in checking our enemies by such means as poisoned grain rather than import other \ermin, the habits and nature of which, apparently we know so little, to kill those that we already have, an experiment which nr:ay end, as it has done in other countries where similar attempts have been tried, most disastrously for us.— l am, yours truly, A Waikato Landowner.