LIVE STOCK AND RABBIT REPORT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1974, 19 September 1889, Page 7

LIVE STOCK AND RABBIT REPORT.

(Fhom Oub Special Cobbesfondent.) Wellington, September 11.

SCAB IN SHEEP.

The Joint Committee on Live Stock and Babbits report that the changes made last year have been beneficial, though they have not yet had the effect intended of stamping scab out of the country. The three districts infected with scab at last session still remain so— namely, Tophouse, Kaikoura, and Miranda. At Tophouse very energetic steps have been taken. Two gangs of men were employed bix months in scouring the country, and 1250 wild sheep were killed, many of them very scabby. No wild sheep are now known to exist there, but the inspector of the district cannot be certain until he has had an opportunity of travelling sheep over the country. The Loan and Mercantile Agency Company own Birch Hill and adjoining stations, and for the past 12 months they have apparently done everything possible to thwart the action of the inspector. Had they co-operated with him there is very little doubt that the question of whether the country waa clean or nob would have been decided. The committee consider that the actions of the representatives of this company in the locality are deserving of the severest censure in setting an example that would not be tolerated in private individuals and which is most prejudical to the best interests of the colony. Until this company is made to do its duty, this part of the country must remain on the infected list. But it is fair to say that the company dispute the ownership of the lease" hold.

At Kaikoura, the flock that was infected last year is now clean, but there has been a very remarkable outbreak in another direction. The country known as Bui Bui run was considered by the owners to be free from 6cab, having been unstocked for about two years. In February last scab was discovered in an isolated flock of 500 sheep which were destroyed. The scab was supposed to have been about a month old, but all efforts that have been made to eradicate the cause of the disease have failed, and until that is discovered the country cannot be considered safe.

At' Miranda, scab was discovered in a flock of 200 sheep. The sheep were not destroyed, but were ordered by the Minister to be cleaned. The committee consider the sheep should have been destroyed. From various causes New Zealand is still suffering from being an infected country.

While good work has been done during last year, they would urge upon the Government the absolute necessity of increasiog vigilance until a clean bill of health can be shown for the entire colony. The committee recommend that tattoo marking on any park of the sheep should be a legal mark, and that a wool brand should not be compulsory. They also strongly urge that no sheep should be allowed to travel on public roads without some easily visible wool brand os mark number.

THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

The rabbitskins exported during last year numbered 12,573,171, being an increase of oeerly half a million on the preceding year. Ifc would appear, therefore, that the number of

rabbits. is still increasing, but it is noped their encroachment on any further, area of eonritry will be much less rapid than has been the case in the past. The conference held in Sydney last year, after exhaustive experiments and most careful investigation, reported that none of the diseases that came under their notice were of any practical use in getting rid of rabbits. They were compelled to fall back on the three known methods of dealing with them — namely, poisoning the natural enemy and fencing. Ferrets, stoats, and weasels are allowed by all to be the cheapest and most self-acting mode of dealing with rabbits.

The committea are at a loss to conceive on what grounds the Government decided to discontinue the purchase of ferrets bred in the colony and to cease the importation of stoats and weasels. The committee believe this course will prove a great national calamity, and strongly urge the Government to reconsider the matter, and beg them to encourage the breeding of ferrets in every possible manner, as well as continue the importation of stoats and weasels. The committee further recommend that private individuals and associations should receive the same concessions as that extended to a rabbit board— namely, pound for pound subsidy on the amount raised by them for importing the natural enemy. It is almost impossible to carry out concurrently with advantage the use of the natural enemy and the employment of men with large packs of dogs and traps. Such means should be discouraged as much as possible wherever the natural enemy is fairly established. Fencing has been tried in North and South Canterbury and Hawke's Bay, and was an unequalled success.

Taking into consideration the trouble and hardship that small settlers in the neighbourhood of large tracts of uncultivated land are subjected to from the incursions of rabbits, the committee suggest that assistance should be given to enable them to protect themselves by supplying them with wire netting fencing on easy terms without interest, and by carrying material on the railways free of charge. The evidence taken before the committee proves that no hard and fast rule can be laid down for the destruction of rabbits. The methods used must vary with the varying conditions, but in order that the conditions should be understood by those entrusted with the carrying out of the act, the committee think it very important that officers should be removed as little as possible from one distrc; t^ another. Where rabbit boards exist the ->„ -iku duties of inspectors ought to be def In these eases district inspectors ought to bave a seat, ex qfficio, on the board, but not be» chairman, and'snould be held responsible for the suppression of rabbits in the board's district. Imprisonment should be an alternative penalty for removing live rabbits from one locality to another. Rewards should be offered for information that will insure conviction for such offence. The committee are of opinion that " The Rabbit Nuisance Act 1886 " should be amended in the above direction.

A very lengthy discussion took place in the House when the report came up, lasting till nearly 5 o'clock. Eventually the report was laid on the table.