THE RABBIT PEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20450, 3 July 1928, Page 5

THE RABBIT PEST.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I notice that you are sceptical about the rabbit pest being a. thing of the past in five years from the present time. I quite agree with you and, what is more, unless rabbit farmers are dealt with more firmly there is a danger of an increase in the pest. From_ what I can see in Central Otago there is a tremendous decrease, but in Southland rabbits are far too plentiful and are just as much a commercial product as sheep or butter-fat. Babbit farming is quite common, even on the smaller farms in some districts. Rabbits are in better condition and have better skins now than they had six or seven years ago. Topdressing does not only increase the number of sheep and cattle in Southland, but it also increases the number of rabbits. It is time _ the stock division took this matter seriously and put down rabbit farming. The inspectors seem to be very active from the end of January. till the end of May. The time to be active is from September onward. It is no use at all being active after the freezing works are open to receive rabbits. Southland can very easily be " cleaned up," and the quicker the stock inspectors get to work the better. _ Ap early start in the spring is essential. Young rabbits are already to be seen, along some of the gorse fences, and the outlook for next year is that of rabbits in abundance.—l am, etc., SoUTHtANDKR.TO THE EDITOH. Sir, —Many and varied are the reasons expressed by farmers, rabbit inspectors, and j others as to the circumstance that' the rabbit is v disappearing, and is now not so plentiful as of yore. Some attribute the cause to the efficacy of the poison-ing-operations; others say that the rabbit is dying out from natural causes. Yet others.assume that the diminution is caused by various reasons, such as * heavy fines for failing-to' destroy rabbits." "the up-to-date efficiency of the rabbit inspectors," " the natural enemy," and last, but not least, the commercial value of the rabbit. When the whole thing is boiled down. I think it will resolve itself into a question of £ s. d., the main controlling factor being the high value of rabbit skins for the last few years.. The average price of rabbit skins for that period was from 2s to Us 3d per lb, and I daresay the average price during the first 30 years from the time . rabbits overran Otago was from 3d to Is 3d per lb. -One year during that time, the top price for •winter skins was about 5d per lb.' Eleven to 12 rabbit skins to-day are practically equivalent to 100 rabbit skins in former years. A man then.making £1 per week can now make £9 for the same amount of work. The rabbit can now be reduced to a far greater extent, and the person employed can still procure a better wage for his work than was obtained in former years. *\ot only that, but the greater part of our rural population utilises every opportunity to procure rabbit skins, even at one shilling per rabbit skin,- let alone two shillings, as is now procurable for the best skins. Moreover, this reduction in ,the number of rabbits takes place chiefly in the winter and beginning of spring, when- the be*st skins are procurable, and, before the breeding season begins, and the ultimate effect of this must be considerable. Not only that, but the natural enemy—ferrets, weasels, and cats —must have a telling effect on the remaining rabbits, telthougb I doubt if there are as many ferrets, weasels, and fats now as there were 20 years ago. Many persons thought that when the price of rabbit skins rose considerably during the last few years it would be ruinous to the country, as both the farmer and runholder would conserve the rabbit for commercial gain. v lt was even though that the Government should control the price of rabbit skins, and so pre- v vent rabbit farming, but I think it was a good things for the country that the Government left the rabbit question alone in that respect. I think it will be found that the higher the price of rabbit skins the greater will the rabbit be reduced. Should rabbitskins fall again to the original prices, it is probable that the rabbit would very soon make up the leeway. Is it any wonder that the rabbit is getting scarce when the price to-day of a good winter rabbit skin is equivalent to the price of a fair store lamb about 30 years ago?— I am, etc. J. C. Smith. • Lovells Flat, June 29.