THE RABBIT PEST.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1414, 21 December 1887, Page 3

THE RABBIT PEST.

In the House on Wednesday, the Hon. Major Atkinson said the Government had found it. impossible, owing to the pressure of business, to give fall consideration to the report of the Joint Babbit Nuisance Committee/ but they thought that the wire fencing referred to in the repot t having been authorised it Bhould be put up, and they would arrange that the additional length of wire should be ordered by telegram.

Captain Rtisaell said the action of the late Government in sanctioning the erection of 40 miles of fencing without the authority of Parliament was a very serious questions. He was prepared to grant the principle that the Crown should pay ita share towards the erection of this fence, but owners of property should be compelled to contribute portion of the coat. He hoped the Government would go thoroughly into the matter. Mr L ince said it was perfectly correct that the fence was ordered without any authority from the House, but he pointed out that serious loss would have been inflicted but for the expenditure of a small sum by the late Government.

Id the discussion which followed, The Hon. G. P. Richardson said that on October 6 last, three days before the present Government came into office, a contract for this wire fencing material had been given to a firm in Wellington for £3669. . The contract had been advertised.

Mr Barron considered a very irregular thing had been done in this matter. Mr Allen thought it was unfair to people in other parts of the colony who were manufacturing this material. The report was eventually ordered to be referred to the Government for con* ■ideratiori.