EXTERMINATION OF PESTS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20905, 12 July 1933, Page 15

EXTERMINATION OF PESTS.

TO THE BDITOa OF THE F8133. Sir,—ln reading Mr Devereux's letter on this subject in "The Press" to-day two facts impress themselves on one. First, Mr Devereux's knowledge of the management of back country is not extensive; second, Mr Devereux docs not lay the blame for most of the troubles he mentions where it should be; that is, on the management, or rather lack of management, of the various stations. During the period 1910-1920 a number of back country stations were subdivided and passed, largely, into the hands of people with little or no knowledge of the management of such country. The boom of that period carried these people along and allowed many of them to dispose of their runs, in many cases to people with even less knowledge, as is shown by the goodwills that were paid. The competent men mostly got out during this period also, as the prices being paid were too good to pass by. The result is the position to-day. The idea of employing unlimited unemployed on rabbit destruction is not feasible, and unnecessary, as a small gang of men under good supervision and using the right poison in a proper manner will soon clear a large area of country of rabbits, at a very small cost. From 35 to 45 years ago rabbits were bad in much of the back country and many methods were tried m attempts to destroy them, but finally one was recognised as being the most effective. That method cleared most of the stations, and has done so in many cases since, but for various reasons is not employed to any great extent to-day, the chief reason being the want of knowledge. Pigs, where they are very plentiful, can also be dealt with by poison, but to clean them up properly two goods dogs and a ritl* are probably the best method. It is possible that deer could also be dealt with to a large extent by poison on country that was kept clear ot stock but this won'-' be possible only where they were very plentiful, and would involve a considerable amount of time and initiative. All this work can be ruled out as unsuitable for absorbing any great number of unemPl The regrassing of the country after the elimination of the various pests will be a big undertaking, especially in the drier areas, and will be a waste of time and money in many cases unless the management is -altered, as auite a large amount of the damage has been caused by poor management

and the presence of too many fences on much of the back country. Some of the legislation passed during the last two of three years will assist in keeping the back country in its present deplorable condition for some years to come. —Yours, etc., KEA. July 11. 1933.