THE RABBIT PEST.

Southland Times, Issue 19394, 7 November 1924, Page 8

THE RABBIT PEST.

To the Editor. Sir,—The Minister of Agriculture says that as far as he is aware no requests for prosecutions were refused in the South Island since the beginning of last year. Was last year the beginning of time in New Zealand? What about 1921 and 1922? What about the interference with Magistrate’s decisions and the return of fines to those convicted when 90 per cent, of those in Otago were rabbit farmers, who in many cases laughed up their sleeves when the return was made, because the fines in most cases only represented a few days catch with the traps. The Minister is convicted out of his own mouth of interference with Justice when he says that no prosecutions were refused since last year. There are many ways of preventing the enforcement of the Rabbit Act and while we have powerful fur merchants interested in “sheep” runs, we cannot expect to see the rabbits

put down. I think the word “rabbit” should be inserted before runs in place of “sheep” in such cases. To my knowledge inspectors have been told by such people “for their own good” not to see certain badly infested runs. There is room for a searching inquiry into the whole administration of the Department which I regret to say has within the past four years degenerated. Lest there should be any misunderstanding I must add that I have always been a supporter of the Reform Party, but I am not blind to the fact that the brains of the Reform Party are, with few exceptions, not in the Ministry. One eorrespondent has suggested that I am a wealthy man and can afford to employ labour. Let me tell him that if he sticks to his rabbits he will remain poor as I would have done if I had not beaten mine. Anything I have was made by myself with the assistance of well paid labour and not by means of land speculation. I am, etc., RUNHOLDER.* Wellington, March 3.