News by Mail.

Inangahua Times, 29 August 1932, Page 4

News by Mail.

Rabbit Plague Desperate Situation State Bonus Suggested Sydney, Aug 13

Many years ago, when rabbits here had increased on such a scale lhat they hreatened the pastoral industries with extinction, desperate efforts were made to keep the pest in check, and they were to a large extent successful. But in recent vears t and more especially since the depression started, the low price that rabbits fetch either for carcase or skin has checked trapping, and so the man on the land has not been able to spend so much money as heretofore in keeping the rabbit down.

The result Is that, throughout the west atid south-west, round Picton an f Kiama, in the Riverina, round Parkes, Tamworth, Wilcannia and many other rural centres, the situation from the pastoral point of view is almost desperate once more. Of course the export of frozen rabbits has reached quite respectable dimension”. Not long ago there were 6,000,000 carcases in Sydney awaiting transport to London- But this represents a very small set off to the devastation which sheep owners and graziers credit to

“bunny.” It is generally held that eight rabhits eat as much grass as one sheep, and it is maintained bv those who can claim to speak with authority that, if there were no rabbits in New South Wales, the State could run from 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 more sheep—of course, to its great and permanent enrichment.

Nothing will keep the rabbit down hut persistent and continuous netting, digging out and poisoning, and the 'and owners simp'v cannot afford these things now. Th n when water aDd grass are scarce, the rabbit pulls the grass up by the roots, and nutty droughts in the west are due more to the rabbit than to lack of rain. There is a strong and growing demand for State action to deal with this terrible pest, and the most effective remedy would appear to be

the offer of a bonus for each rabbit destroyed. This is certainly a matter rhat the Country party will bring under the notice of the Government ; for if something is not done speedily to cope with the situation the consequence may become,. in the words of one of the western inspectors, “ too terrible to contemplate.”