PLAGUE OF RATS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23619, 1 April 1940, Page 12

PLAGUE OF RATS

GREAT ARMY ON MARCH HORDES ON ROADS AND PLAINS [iT.OM Ol'lt OWN connkspondknt] SYDNEY, March QO A hungry rat army is on the march in Central Australia. The worst plague South Australia has known has entered far northern areas of the State after travelling more than 500 miles from Queensland. The rats, which are of the field variety, and are travelling in great droves, are eating everything they find in their path, and are causing much trouble at homesteads. They destroy leather and harness, eat out saddle packs, burrow under floors and boldly race round houses at night. Although as many as 00 rats a night have been caught at some stations the main hordes are as big as ever. But for the excellent season damage hy the rats would have severely hit farmers, who say that steps must be taken to check the further advance of the rats. Travellers say great milling hordes of them can be seen rit nights swarming on the roads and plains. Mr. Ken Croinbie, a mail contractor, estimated that the rat army had advanced about !00 miles in three months, and was now travelling very slowly. He has to drive through the :rals on his fortnightly 700-mile journey.