DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26869, 23 October 1952, Page 10

DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS

PARLIAMENT

USE OF MYXOMATOSIS VIRUS COMMITTEE REPORTS ON POSITION (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. October 22. After having viewed a demonstration at the Wallace ville Research Laboratories this morning, the Agriculture and Pastoral Committee of the House of Representatives was convinced that the killing of rabbits by the myxomatosis virus was the most humane method, said the chairman of the committee (Mr W. H. Gillespie, Hurunui) in the House today. Mr Gillespie was reporting on the petition of the Animal Protection Society, of Christchurch, praying for the prohibition of the use of the virus for the destruction of rabbits. The committee had no recommendation to make.

Mr Gillespie said the committee had j given every consideration to the peti- | tion. Members had viewed a film which demonstrated the use and effects of the virus on rabbits in Australia, and saw a demonstration at Wallaceville. “This demonstration determined the finding of the committee,” he said, “and it proved conclusively that the allegations made in the evidence given to the committee had no foundation in fact.” This evidence was that rabbits suffered undue pain from the virus and that they “screamed and cut all sorts of capers” before they died. But the committee considered the virus was the most humane method of killing them, said Mr Gillespie. It could not be guaranteed that rabbits suffered no pain once they were infected with the virus, but it could be guaranteed that they would not suffer as much pain as if they were poisoned, Mr Gillespie continued. Some of the rabbits seen at Wallaceville had been infected with virus for six days, and some for seven days. ’They were still hopping about and feeding, but they were listless and their eyes were bunged up and their noses running.” he said. “Just before death they sank into a coma.” Mr Gillespie said that the actual cause of death could not be determined, but it was presumed that the virus spread throughout the rabbit’s system and lowered its resistance to live, and that it died of heart failure. In the last stages the rabbit suffered no pain. He said that those in charge of the experiments at Wallaceville did not think the virus method would be a great success in New Zealand because the climate was not dry enough. Miss Howard’s Misgivings Miss M. B. Howard (Opposition, Sydenham,' said that all interested societies in New Zealand owed the committee a debt for their exhaustive investigations. Those societies would do well to direct their efforts toward outlawing the use of phosphorus poisoning. She was, however, a little concerned lest the virus affect small household animals, and she wanted to be convinced that the virus was the most humane method of killing rabbits. “How can a mosquito which carries the virus distinguish between a rabbit and a cat?” asked Miss Howard. “If you’re going to exterminate all the cats in this country, then Im one old maid who is going to get up on her hind legs and howl,” she said. Miss Howard added that she was still not satisfied that the virus could not be transmitted to children.

Mr C. L. Carr (Opposition. Timaru) said that if' the virus was the least painful method of destroying rabbits it was all to the good. The Deputy-Leader of the Opposition (Mr C. F. Skinner) said that overseas all kinds of animals had been inoculated with the virus, and the only other animal to be affected was the American “jack rabbit,” and even that showed very little reaction to the virus. Science had proved that the virus had no effect on the human being. The Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake) said that experiments with the virus had been carried out in Australia for more than 15 years before New Zealand decided to experiment He did not think the virus experiments would be as successful in New Zealand as they had been in Australia, because the climate was not so conducive for the mosquito, especially in the South Island, but further experiments would be conducted this year. Mr Holyoake said he was pleased that the virus question had been raised publicly. There were certain fears about it held by many citizens, but those fears would, he hoped, now be allayed. Even the hare, which was the closest possible relation to the rabbit, was not affected by the virus.

GAS INDUSTRY IN _N.Z. MINISTER SPEAKS OF DIFFICULTIES RIGHTS GIVEN TO POWER BOARDS IN BILL (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. October 22. New Zealand could not afford to let its gasworks, which provided 30 per cent, of the heat, light, and power in the country, close down, said the Minister in charge of the Hydro-electric Department (Mr W. S. Goosman), moving the second reading of the Electric Power Boards Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives tonight. The Minister said that the main principle in the bill dealt with the rights of power boards to take over gasworks. “Gasworks are having a pretty hard time m a lot of cases, but New Zealand cannot afford to let them close down.” he said. Mr M. "Moohan (Opposition. Petone). supporting the bill said that a remarkable advance over gas had been achieved by electricity in the last 25 years. The people generally were turning more to electricity, and the gasworks were fighting a losing battle, he said. Because of increased prices for coal and other increased costs the finances of many gas companies, particularly of the smaller ones, were in a bad state. It was almost impossible for some of these smaller ones to continue. He said he hoped the Government would be generous in its assistance to power boards absorbing gas industries. Mr J. R. Hanan (Government. Invercargill) said that the bill offered some hope for the rationalisation of the heat and power resources of the country. The gas industry in competition with electric power supplies, had done its best to create more gas. but at the same time it had created bigger losses. Electricity had been supplied to consumers in some cases at below cost, but there was soon to be a new agreement between the State and supply authorities, and this was likely to result in higher costs to the consumer in many areas. This increase was likely to put "as and electricity supply costs on a m nr© comparable basis. The Minister of Industrie?; and Commerce <Mr J. ’ . Watts) said that the time would come when the present power boards would change their character and become local heat and rower authorities. The Minister of Works was setting up a committee of electric newer, gas. and Government representatives to investigate the reauirements nf the countrv for neat and power. He believed the commit*°e would produce a great deal of useful information The bill was a steo in the right direction, and the gas companies were generally in agreement with its provisions. The bill was given a second reading.