STOATS AND WEASELS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16736, 18 May 1922, Page 7

STOATS AND WEASELS.

WAR OF OPINIONS IN SYDNEY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 18. 9.15 a-ru.) SYDNEY May 18Pre»s contention is raging round the advice given by Mr Goldman Phillips, a New Zealander, to a- meeting of pastoralists that stoats and weasels should be introduced to combat, tlie rabbit plague. The meeting resolved to attk the Federal Government to permit their introduction. Mr Symom, Chief Inspector of Stock, declares that a, similar proposal had been considered from time t-o time by both the Federal and State Government* He says that Mr Phillips’ pro jio-als are largely regarded as theories. So.ne years ago official enquiries were made in New Zealand, and the information obtained was utterly opposed to the proposal for the reason that stoat < and v * asels. which had been introduced had quite forsaken the pursuit of rabbits, and hod became serious destructive pfsts to poultry and all kinds *>t i.ird I'fe. Eater official reports from Now Zealand all indicated that.' the only oflactive methods of dealing with tho rabbit nuisance were netting, poi sr.uing and trapping. Mr Frogga.rt, Vice-President of the Zoological Society, also issues a strong •yarning, against the danger of introducing the methods proposed by Air Phillips.

COMBATING THE RABBIT PEST.