THE RABBIT QUESTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2426, 12 September 1900, Page 7

THE RABBIT QUESTION.

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. ' A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. (Feoji Oue Own Cokbespondext.) WELLINGTON, September 7. The Stock Committee to-day recommended that Mr Hogg's Rabbit Act Amendment Bill be not further proceeded with. This raised a discussion which occupied the attention of the House for the whole of- the afternoon. The Minister of Agriculture quoted figures regarding the export of the skins and carcases of rabbits trapped for export. The figures represented an increase of three millions in three yenrs. He argued from this that trapping had not been successful, and the rabbits were actually again on the increase. Trapping, he said, was not reducing them. He had seen them himself in Otago, and he could say that the numbers had materially increased of late. Ie was his intention to give notice to inspectors and agents to go with the owners of land and show them where the rabbits were on their property. Then the owners would be given a certain time to get rid of them by trapping or any other means. The manner of getting rid of them would not matter so long as the pest was reduced within bounds. If this was not done, then the agent would report to his superior officer, and then another man would be sent to examine the land before the summons was issued. The trouble arose in consequence of the inspectors knowing that they had power to get a settler fined whether there were rabbits on his land or not. — (Hon. Members: "Hear, hear.") He asked to be allowed to try this plan for a year. He would also accept Mi- Buddo's suggestion to move the rabbit inspectors periodically from one district to another. In Otago the colony had lost enormously through the rabbit pest. Run after run ■had been abandoned, and run after run was mot worth one-quarter the amount it formerly was worth. If it had not been for

the drastic measures taken Canterbury would have been in the same state. He would further arrange that during the trapping &eabon poisoning should cease for a time.- They must let the people know that the rabbits had to be kept down, and they could not do away with the act until it had another trial.

Mr* Gilfedder : Will you allow them to trap on Crown lands?

The Hon. Mr Duncan : I'll allow them to trap anywhere. I'll give then! at least two months for trapping, and there won't be poisoning during those months. (Cries of "Hear, hear,"' and '' JLhat will do.")

Mr T. Mackenzie combated the Minister's statement. He .-aid the rabbits had decreased enormously in consequence of the export industry. The poisoning system, which the Government pinned its faith to, had been a failure.

Mr James Allen said the Minister of Lands had quoted the figures wrongly. The Minister had attempted to show that there was an increase in rabbits, but, from his own showing, there must be a decrease, for if they killed so many rabbits in the year they must be decreasing the pest. The Stock Committee had given a favourable report on Mr Hogg-'s bill the first- time, but on the pecond occasion, under the influence of the Minister, ths committee had reversed its former decision. The Minister himself had turned a complete somersault in this matter, as Mr Allen proceeded to show, amid some laughter, by quoting a speech delivered in the House on September 26 last by Mr Duncan. Since then, however, the Minister had his departmental officers behind him, and they had stiffened him lip. Mr Meredith said that trapping would be ineffective in the district he represented.

Mr Sedclon contended that if it had not been for tli3 strict manner in which the act had been administered the wlfole country would have been overrun with rabbits. His late colleague, the Hon. John M'Kenzie, had come to the conclusion that it was not yet time to \-elax the stringency of the act. He (Mr Secidon) contended that it wis the , small settlers who had been harassed, and not the large runholders. Mr Secidon, during the course of his remarks, said an okl trapper had told him that a few poisoned rabbit« hid been exported from the colony.

An Hon. Member said it was a pity such a statement had been allowed to get into Hansard, as it would have a damaging effect on the export industry.

Mr Duncan replied that no notice should bo taken of that, because he kne-\V the man very well, and he was a crank. — (Much laitQ-hter.) Mi- W. Eraser said the poisoning did not affect the flesh. He bad known r'abbiters to eat the noisoned rabbits.

Mr Thompson (Morsden) : It will spoil the sale, though.

The discussioir ended with an announcement by the Premier that Mr Duncan was anxious to give the act another trial for a year, and if it was then found that it was not a succesSj an amended bill wotvLd be brought in.