THE RABBIT ACT

Southland Times, Issue 19394, 7 November 1924, Page 5

THE RABBIT ACT

SOUTHLAND TIMES CRITICISM. DENIAL BY THE MINISTER. (Special to the Times). WELLINGTON, November 6. “The Southland Times evidently refuses to accept as correct the very plain statements I have already made. In the circumstances I would be more than warranted in going no further,” said the Minister of Agriculture to-day. “In view, however, of the fact that the paper’s readers may be wrongly influenced by the suggestions conveyed in this last publication, I will once more state that a search of the Departmental records for the past two years shows that no application to prosecute under the Rabbit Act which came to me was refused. The Southland Times refuses to accept this, and asks for a positive declaration that every request to prosecute under the Rabbit Act was granted promptly. It is obvious that this is only putting the same point in another way. Every such request was granted, both as regards the North and South Islands, and the approval was given promptly. In no case was there a delay which could have operated as a refusal. So much for that WORK OF INSPECTORS. “Now I want to go further,” said Mr Nosworthy, “and to state definitely that the inspectors have not had their efficiency blunted by Departmental brakes.’ In making a statement that this is the case, the Times has either said too much or two little, and it should make its position clear. I note that the anonymous “Runholder” has again come to light with a letter criticising the Department, in which he expresses his refusal to give information regarding the case he referred to in his previous letter, because to do so would expose the inspectors ‘doing faithful but hopeless’ work ‘to the wrath of the Department.’ Why does not the correspondent come out in the open and state his ease manfully? He need not shelter behind the fear of getting the inspectors into trouble. The Public Service Commissioner is there to see that they are justly treated, and neither I nor any administrative officers have any intention of doing anything which is not fair and just. As a matter of fact the inspectors are a very hard working and trustworthy body of men, and they have done, and are doing excellent work to control the rabbit pest.”