AUSTRALIA'S RABBIT PEST.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1808, 5 May 1921, Page 9

AUSTRALIA'S RABBIT PEST.

COSTS £85,000,000 YEARLY.

Speaking at a meeting of pastoralists at Inverell, New South Wales, Mr G. R. Skelton said that in a communication he had received from the Victorian. Department of Agriculture the chief inspector stated that six rabbits consumed or destroyed enough feed to maintain one sheep, and each rabbit consumed food to the amount of 21b. in 24 hours. Taking: the basis of 40 rabbits as equal to one sheep, he (Mr Skelton) estimated that in Australia the pest was taking the place of 90,000,000 sheep. As the existing value of a sheep was 8/, the Commonwealth was losing £35,000,000. per aivnum. During the past seven years 36,000,000 rabbit skins had been sold in Sydney, and, allowing 100 rabbits to be left in the bush for every one caught, he estimated that in that way New South Wales alone would be carrying 3,600,000,000 rabbits. The directors of the Inverell Board realised that the rabbit was gaining- a hold in the district. The' following resolution was carried: "That this bpard form rabbit destruction associations, each to supervise not more than 30,000 acres, with an honourary Inspector for each, the associations to report progres to the board; the board to appoint one month in each year when all land must be poisoned; and that a sub-committee of three members of the board be appointed to manage the destruction of rabbits."