Wire Netting V. Babbit Pest.

Otago Witness, Issue 1956, 20 August 1891, Page 18

Wire Netting V. Babbit Pest.

TO THE KDITOB.

Sib,— Would you please allow a few remarks In reference to what the Minister of Lands has said fas reported in this weekVWitness) on behalf of the Government regarding wire netting being supplied at cost price to settlers in rabbit infested districts, ai we consider the reply is unsatisfactory and misleading.

A petition was sent from Green Valley to the House of Represent ativea, asking assistance in procuring wire netting on easy terms -for settlers cropping in the neighbourhood of large fcraots of tussock country where rabbits abound. The Minister of Lands states that it would cost the country imlf a million to get netting, and the Government wfU not do it. The petition was worded exactly in terms of the recommendations of the Live Stock and Babbit Committee of the House of Bepresentatives. One recommendation is as follows:— " Taking into consideration the trouble and hardship that email settlers in the neighbourhood of large tracts of uncultivated land are subjected to from the incursions of rabbits, tha oommifctee suggest that assistance should be given to enable them to protect themselves £ by supplying them with wire-netting fenciDg on easy! terms, without interest, and by oarrying material onj railways free of charge," The advice of this \vam portant committee has been to the same effect foil years past. M Ib seemi to us an exaggeration that this fchemel - should cott the oountry half a million, for thel ' farmers here and in other places, if they got the* chance, would be prepared to pay ab once one half oi* the cost of the netting they required, the rest to tJ ~ paid in threa or four years, and would be also willing to pay interest (say i per cent.) while the money was in use. The Government could impart bo much each year for perhaps five years. The netting could be forwarded from London, and thus provided 30 per cent, cheaper than Dauedin prices. Thus ib would cost the Government In the end only the price of the free railway carriage. Bub even although every acre in the rabbit-infested dfstriots of both islands were netted in on these terms ib would cost the Government only a few thousands. It seems strange when a practical way to assist the unfortunate settlers from the pesb is pointed out ib is sure to be set aside. A Shop Bill, a Divorce Bill, or an Honorarium Bill would be sure to meet a different fate. We hear a good deal about farmers being the baukbone of the country— rather say their burdens will soon be more than they can bear. Ia it because of this that so many of their sons are leaving this fine land? Lasb year a meeting was held at Dunback for the purpose of getting netting through the Government, and resolutions carried and embodied ia a petition. The present Minister of Lands was thera tofsdviseacd assist us, he entirely sympathised with our demands It seems, however, that tho Government have not had bime to consider this matter, or they would havo met our request half way, coatirg tha country but very little. Perhaps they have promised too much to their friends already. Allowing ihab it would cost £500,000, the money would ba well spent, as doubtless It would— to state only oaecase — be a greaS boon to those cultivating thousands of acres of green crops, and (he sale of fertilisers wou'.d consequently increase 500 fold. For the use of store and fattening sheep in wiuter and tho early springr months wirs netting fenciDg has been an unqualifiad succ?es in both the North aud South Islands— ia Canterbury and Hawke's Bay for example. We hare trespassed too much on your space, but with your permission shall probably return to the 6uhj3ct ag>\in.— We are, &0., TWO OF THE F&TITIO.XBR3. CJreen Valley, August 13. The I\S. Theodore. TO THE EDITOP. Sib,— Having read ia your issue of 6th Au£uatyour Albertown correspondent's letter in which he says that it is confidently asserted that startling revelations will be madere the sinking of the p o. Theodore eventually, I wonder whufc he means by this remark. Does ha mean that fchs sinking of Ihe 'I'neodore has been caused by the hand of someone connected wibh the prop-jrty ? If sci, why d:d ho not come forward and give nisavidenc^.-U. 'lid time of fcho inquiry? In thb ponuee'iaii Im iy meaf ion ihat the waggotn hivu j i<? Mvi»el ,viUi itib heavy winches and gear lor the hauHug up of the steamer, and when the wiya ara landed oa the ground the work will not tike long, when it is to be hoped that the einkin» of tl.e T'.i'.)Toro will uo brought oub in its true colours.— l aui, &c. Pembroke, August 17. Besipext.

— Amoag Yon Moltke's fivourite books were the works of Shakespeare, Sootfc, and Carlyle,