THE DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS-MR. SMITH'S SCHEME. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8961, 13 November 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS-MR. SMITH'S SCHEME. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib,—ln n recent issue of your paper Mr James Smith, one of tho candidates for tho representation of Bruce, has published an address on his political views. To these in general I do not at present refer, but I wish to remark on his somewhat novel scheme for the destruction of rabbits. His plan is to " enclose" large areas of land, say, from 5000 to 10,000 j acres, with wire netting, and then turn out an abundance of ferrets." Now, I fail to see what would be tho use of tbn wire netting at all. If the ferret has to hunt his rabbit over an area of 10,000 acres he might as well have free scope over the whole of Otago. If it is intended that only a favoured spot here and there would be enclosed, and receive the benefit of the ferret hunters, it is all very well if done at the expense of the owners of these favoured spots, but if at the expense of the Government some people would demur. Then again, the ferrets are tn breed. Are wo to wait on this ? For, if so, the rabbits will breed with tenfold more rapidity, and before the ferrets have accomplished their task the living genoration of men will be where they will not care whether the rabbits are destroyed or not. Then supposing we had "an abundance of ferrets " to let loose at once for that purpose, is it certain that they would not bB as great a nuisance as the one they were sent forth to put down ? And moreover, experience goes against the theory that the ferrets would ever cope with the rabbits. In the part of Scotland where I was there wer-T weasels and polecats from time immemorial, but no rabbits till about 30 years ago. About that time they came, they spread, they multiplied in spite of the weasels, though they had the great advantage of beiug ou the ground before them. Altogether, the scheme appears to me to be quite Utopian, and sure to end like the bursting of a bubble. If Mr Smith is not possessed of sounder judgment on other political subjects than he appears to be on killing rabbits, the electorate of Bruce will not be much honoured by sending him up aB its representative.

If tho money necessary to buy the wire, put up the fence, and breed tho ferrets was supplemented by the salaries of the inspectors and paid in wages to men permanently employed to kill the rabbits, it might do some good, and it would save come poor men the annoyance of threats and prosecutions when they are doing their best to keep them down and driven to their wits' end to know what to do.—l am, &c, Glenore, November 10. William M'Ca-st.