RABBITING THE COMMONAGE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XVII, Issue 844, 16 June 1885, Page 2

RABBITING THE COMMONAGE.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —For several years the Government has let the clearing of Cromwell commonage of rabbits by contract, and certainly things have been going from bad to worse. The first year four men took the contract. They certainly did not clear the rabbits away, but they got the money. The second year two men took the contract, and I suppose they also got the money (they took it a lot cheaper than the first contract) although they left plenty rabbits for the new comer. Indeed, how could two men be expected to keep the pest down over some 10,000 acreVj-' when four men could not do it the preceding year ? This year the contract has been taken by some one who has not been heard of or seen yet, unless through his advertisement, where, signing himself "J. Ritchie, janr., contractor," he threatens anyone found rabbiting on the commonage or reserves with prosecution. Now, the facts are thus : The mo3t infested part of the whole commonage is the high terrace between Burn Cottage and the Lowburn, round the sidling of which mining property to the amount of soma thousands of pounds in the shape of four water-races are situated, and where already of late some very narrow escapes from disaster through rabbit's burrowing have occurred. The position of the race-owner now is this : If he takt-.s steps to protect his property by digging out and destroying the pest he will be prosecuted ; if he does not, his property may suffer damage to the extent of a hundred or two—for a break on that terrace is an expensive affair. It is high time to end this farce. Has the Government (through the luspector) accepted the contract from a boy, or who is this J. Ritchie, jnur? Has the Inspector got any guarantee that the contract will be carried out, or is' it taken so cheap that it must be slummed ? I hope the Inspector will take this matter in hand without any pr (traction, and make the contractor put on a sufficient number of men to eradicate the pest in that locality, where the risk is so great in the first place, for it is evident the way things are goiug on that next year the commonage contract will be a sort of juvenile arrangement. Somebody's boys will take it; it is no responsibility. The old man is not in it. What can the Inspector do ? Summon the so-and-so janr. No good, under age, dismiss the case, and the rabbit luspector is like a Volunteer company after drill, " As you were."

—I am, etc., Rather Awkward Cromwell, June 9th, ISSS.