RABBITS IN THE KING COUNTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2678, 10 September 1889, Page 2

RABBITS IN THE KING COUNTRY.

Mr G. T. Wilkinson, in his report, says: —"Previous to the natives of the King-! country turning their attention to cutting flax for the mills, a number of thein—especially those living between the confiscationlino and Otorohsnga—used to get a living by destioying rabbits, which were getting to bo rather numerous at the northern end of the Kiug-couutry. The price given bv Government until lately was 3d per skin, and whilst that price was maintained, the natives, young and old, went to work with a will, sometimes shooting, sometimes trapping, but more frequently digging the rabbits out of their holes, with the result that bunny has very much decreased—in fact, bade fair to be exterminated altogether ; but, just as the nuisance had been got , well in hand, and there was a prospect of its being kept within bounds, if not removed entirely, the department has suddenly reduced the price to 2d por skin, which has caused the Maoris to discontinue their efforts. For they say—and the truth of tho statement cannot be denied—that, if it was worth 3d per skin to kill the rabbits when they were plentiful, the price, instead of being reduced, should have been increased as tho rabbits got scarcer, because tho chanco of earning a living by their destruction is thereby lessened. If tho flax industry in creases in this district, in all probability the Maoris will take to flax-cutting instead of rabbit-killing, in which case the rabbits will be left bo increase again until such time as the nuisance has assumed considerable magnitude, when, perhaps, it may then be thought advisable to give 3d per skin to bring about its reduction.