STOATS AND WEASELS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 800, 25 April 1910, Page 4

STOATS AND WEASELS.

At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society last week, the Hon. H. F.Wigr'am, M.L.C., introduced the question of stoats _apd weasels.: .'He said farmers admitted these animals did not exterminate rab< bits, which were just as bad, and,- perhaps, worse where' rabbits and' stoats wore. The time had come when they should, approach tlio., Government and ask whether they should not authorise the extermination of stoats and weasels in cortain districts. .Of course, it'would be impossible to' attempt that all - over the country, but,the. stoats, and .weasels had done harm to , ducks and .. other birds. He'(Mr. Wigram) thought that an. attempt should bo made. to. exterminate them: .on v 'the flat and arable country, if.not on the hills, although lie thought' -they should be attacked on flic hills too.'. Tho'-'manner of exterminating them was difficult, and ho .was not prepared to speak about that, but would leave it to the-society. Ho moved that tho Government should be approached in the direction of authorising the destruction of stoats and weasels,. at any rate in .tho flat jiarts of the country; and that it be an instruction to the incoming council to consider tho matter, and to mako such representations to tho Government as they. soo fit. Dr. C. , Morton Anderson, "who seconded the motion, suggested it would ho a good idea to invite farmers to forward their views on tho subject-. Tho motion was carried. Speaking subsequently, Mr. Wiijrani said-lie. had been in the Hawea district lately, and had seen the rabbits pepping up everywhere. Trapping and fencing were tho ' real remedies agaiiist tho pest. Ho only wished to-"bring tho question up, > and did not profess to he an expert on tho subject. He trusted farmers would give their opinions, as ho had no desiro to thrust-his views on 1 -the cottimunitj.