TO THE EDITOR

Otago Witness, Issue 2251, 22 April 1897, Page 7

TO THE EDITOR

Sin, — I have read Uie correspondence appearipg iv your paper Utely in reference to the vabbit prosecution on th& Otigi> Peninsula, and the way the Agricultural department carry out their duties, showing favour to those of the tight co.our. I will- give you an instance oi' how matters were conducted in that department before the present Gavarnruer.i, >;ook office. I was farming in the Waihtmo County. My l?.nd was bounded by some thousands of iwres, held by ono in a high positiou in the colony. The «-abbit agent whs warning mo to kill rabbits. I told him lo come with; me aud I would show him whero th» rabbits came from — a rabbit warren iv the adjoining large holding. Ho declined. ]» told him if he did net I ; should expose thf mitler, and <aft.f}r repealed i applications to him to accompany mp, h« said j it was more than his billet was worth lo take > proceedings against my neighbour. — I am, &c, } April 10. Ex-Palm3-;i;stonitjs. TO THI3 EDITOR. Sir. — Iv fchiF morning* i>suo is a letter over i/ac signature of Al«-x C. Bogg, in .which he points oufc tbe action h^ has taken ye experiment* made iv Queensland, &c. May I suggest! that Mr Begg see those residing in Dutiedin largely interested in eradicating the rabbits, and take srep3 to get the information them- | selves, aud get some of the ingredients, and so make a practical teat rather than trust to the ! delay of the Agricultural department. By so doing he will confer ft boon on the owners of" land in Ofcago and Southland Mr Begg is certainly deserving our thanks for moving in tho matter. I would prefer owners of land making the test themselves than trusting to the inspector. — I am, &c , I Dunedin, April 13. Interested. TO THE EDITOR. ! Sir, — Several letters havinp appeared m the columns of your journal re the administration of the Rabbit department, I consider they have not touched the ugliest part ( of the whole matter, and that is the appointment of agents and inspector^. This subject wants thoroughly ventilating. I know from j c-xperience that the department is better managed ' at present than by the old Administration ; but j that's not saying much. It should be said, I 1 am aware, that the present Administration mak^ ! very grave blunders in the appointment of agents and inspectors, who practically know i nothing about the work necessarily required . for the destruction of the pest. I I have had, unfortunately, considerable experience with the class of men usually appointed, and only in ono instance have I came across a. thoroughly practical agent who had the experience necessary. And, Sir, what was the consequence ? Why, it was very rarely a summon'? was issued. There seemed to be no friction beitweeu the parties interested, sind why ? Why, because tbe agent knew his work — knew the time the ground was fit for poisoning or trapping, could show men how to work their i ground to advantage, how to mix poisoD, how to breed ferrets, when to let them loose, and all the knowledge that he should have in such a nosition. Both ruuholders and small farmers had confidence in him, because his advioe was valuable. They never tried to bluff him with the statement that they had men working their ground when they had not — nothing of the kind, because they knew that he'd know different. I have seen this agent tie up his horse for hours teaching a new chum trapper. This is the class of men Government want to employ in place of the gilded city youth. - . Once for all, let a democrat Government do away with favouritism. It has been and is the curse of this country. In conclusion, I want it clearly understood that the writer of this note does uofc want a billot, neither has he a pet. — I am, &c, A. G. M'Donald,

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