SOUTH CANTERBURY RABBIT FENCE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8594, 22 September 1893, Page 3

SOUTH CANTERBURY RABBIT FENCE.

fFROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]

WELLINGTON, September 21,

The following report on the South Canterbury rabbit fence from the Joint Stock Committee was presented to both Houses this afternoon :—" Your Committee have considered a petition from the settlers in South Canterbury, in" which they affirm that rabbits are seriously increasing on the north side of the South Canterbury rabbit fence and ask that Government aid be given towards the erection of fences to enable the settlers to deal more effectively with the pesb in that part of the district where the rabbits are thickest. Mr Rhodes, M.H.R., gave information to the Committee in support of the petition, and Mr Ritchie, of the Stock Department, gave very full particulars of the action of thab Department. The Hon. the Minister of Lands stated thab the Government could nob consent to provide, funds for the fences proposed in the petition, but would undertake that, in respect of rabbit fences erected on leased Crown lands, the value of such fences should be secured to the tenants on the expiration of their leases, provided thvb such fences were approved by the Department before erection ; also that the Government would favourably consider any efficient scheme of fence that would secure the check of the pest to the northwards.

" The conclusions your Committee have come to are:—(l) That rabbits have undoubtedly very seriously increased in South Canterbury since the fence was erected; that they now exist in considerable numbers to the North of that fence, and require to be vigorously dealt with or serious consequences to a large area of country in South Canterbury must result. (2) Tbat the colony is largely interested in dealing with the rabbits in South Canterbury, as large areas of Crown runs are now affected and their value deteriorated, and the fuxther spread will seriously diminish the revenue derived from the Crown lands in South Canterbury. (3) That the fencing proposed by the petitioners would only enable the settlers in part of the infested districts to deal more advantageously with the pest, and that neifher the settlers nor the Department has been able to propose a line of fence that would check the spread of rabbits to the northward. (4) That the Government should deal vigorously with the pest and enforce the provisions of the Rabbit Acts, and to enable such measures to be effective your Committee considers an increase to the staff is necessary to ensure that assistance and direction to the efforts of the settlers which can only be secured by thorough inspection and supervision. (5) That {the Government should at an early date have a thorough examination made of of the condition of the South Canterbury district, and as to the efficiency of the means now being taken to check the evils. A report should also be obtained as to whether a fence line or system of fencing can be secured, which will assist in checking the spread of tbe rabbits northward."