RABBITS NOT DESTROYED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18080, 3 May 1922, Page 9

RABBITS NOT DESTROYED.

* AN AUCKLANDER FINED. PROPERTY NEAR TAUPO. [BX TELEGRArK —PRESS ASSOCIATION".] NAPIER, Tuesday. At the Magistrate's Court this morning Mr. Dyer, S.M., gave reserved judg- | ment in the case of the Hawke's Bay Rabbit Board v. H. R. Mackenzie, of j Auckland. . , >' I The magistrate said defendant was | charged with having failed to destroy rabbits on his area of 45,000 acres near Taupo. Tho evidence showed that whiie there were indications of rabbits there was no -sign of any work being undertaken for their destruction. Defendant had been previously fined £25. Defendant had paid £ICV for work on the property, and that work had been carried out. .There was a difference as to what the £100 was poisoning on the property or for a year's work. The board showed that the money had been properly spent. Defendant probably acted in good faith, and did not know that the money had been spent until he came to Napier to defend the case. , The inspectors said the property was in a very bad state, being badly infested with rabbits. The block was of about 70 square miles, and it was unreasonable to expect adjoining owners to be notified to poison simultaneously. Defendant would be convicted and fined £5, tho minimum for a second conviction. Costs were added totalling £2 15s. -