RABBIT EXTERMINATION.

Southland Times, Issue 22201, 19 December 1933, Page 9

RABBIT EXTERMINATION.

To the Editor.

Sir,—l see by the papers that rabbit committees have been formed in different parts of Southland to make war on the rabbits, the work being done by relief workers paid out of the unemployment fund. Now it seems to me that this is a waste of public money. Money that is spent on drainage .or bringing in waste country ‘or . clearing bush is doing some good as it is bringing land into production, but money spent on killing rabbits is simply thrown away as they will breed just as prolifically next year. I believe that the Unemployment Board will not subsidize a man employed at milking cows, yet it is subsidizing men killing rabbits and these men are just having a summer holiday. It seems ridiculous to me. If a farm is infested with rabbits that is the farmer’s liability and there is no reason why he should be assisted with public money. There are many farmers receiving benefit from this subsidy who are quite able to pay for it out of their own pocket. The board, I take it, makes enquiry into the financial affairs of a relief worker before assisting him. Is *it making any enquiry as to the financial position of the farmers who are benefiting by this subsidy? If not, why not? However, if the board must carry on with this subsidy I think it should close it down when the works start buying rabbits, which is on January 4. There are scores of men about Southland not eligible as relief workers but on the border line, who every year depend on what they, make by trapping and perhaps poisoning to tide them over the winter. This subsidizing scheme is not giving them a chance. I understand this subsidy is to be carried on till the end of February. My contention is that it should be dropped when the works start buying rabbits on January 4 and that would put all trappers on the same footing. However, perhaps some abler pen than mine will take this matter up and provide an interesting discussion.—l am, etc., interested. . Lochiel, December 14, 1933.