Mr. J. M. Craig, continued,

some rabbit-infested areas of the other States, and I suggested that cats should be purchased and let loose in known infested areas. The Government approved of the recommendation, and some 160 cats were released at 15s. a head; but the contractor, Graham, found that he was losing money on the business, seeing that the cats were difficult to carry about, and he asked to be relieved from the balance of the contract. That was agreed to, and that is all that has been done to eradicate the rabbits.

19. That was done in 1898?—1898.

20. What steps have been taken since 1898?—Since 1898 Mr. White has been appointed inspector. That was on the 1st January, 1899, and he was asked to go out and ascertain whether rabbits had made any headway. His reports are before you now, but nothing has been done recently to exterminate the rabbits.

21. This expedition of White in 1899 was simply to get a report as to the whereabouts of the rabbits?—To locate them.

22. To locate them?—Yes.

23. It had nothing to do with extermination?—Not until recently.

24. As we are going to have Mr. White himself before us we will not inquire further now; but what further steps were taken?—A party of five men, acting in conjunction under his instructions, have been instructed to eradicate the pest from different colonies wherever they may have been found to exist. There are some at Widgiemooltha, and at two or three other places on the goldfields they have been recently discovered.

25. No further steps have been taken?—None.

26. Here comes a question which you will probably have to postpone: Will you tell us what expenditure has been incurred by the Government up to the present with regard to this matter?—I could not say from memory.

27. And you would wish that question deferred?—Yes.

28. Generally speaking, what has been the result of this expenditure?—Well, it has enabled us to form a pretty fair opinion as to what point we should start a fence from. Had we acted on the recommendation of Mr. Page and others, the money used in the construction of such a fence would have been a wanton waste, because it has been found that rabbits were hundreds of miles ahead of the proposed fence and even recently —

29. We do not want to go into that.—It is an answer to the question.

30. The result has been that you have been able to locate the rabbits?—Yes; and the evidence showed that had the fence as previously recommended been constructed, rabbits would have been found considerably ahead of those places.

31. And that is all the result of this expenditure of public money?—Yes.

32. How many years is it since rabbits were known to exist in this State?—There is no direct evidence in any of the reports I have, but I should say since between 1893 and 1896; any time between these years; we had reports but no direct evidence. I may tell you that we have a report from Widgiemooltha; that was in August, 1898. We sent out men and they were unable to find any trace of rabbits, but I have since then been shown conclusively that there were at the time rabbits there, a large number being discovered about that locality.

33-34. You are only speaking about what you officially know. There was some legislation a few years ago as to rabbits on certain islands and elsewhere?—I do not know anything about that.

35. There was a report as to rabbits being killed at the North-West. Cape?—Yes, but we attach very little importance to that; we did not believe it.

THE CHAIRMAN: It was absolutely correct.

36-37. Do you know of any legislation enacted with reference to rabbits in this State?—That is the only one I know of. (Produced, 47 Vict., No. 15.)

38. What year is that?—September, 1883

39. This legislation was not enacted through you or your department?—No.

40. It was before your time?—It was before my time.

41. We shall probably have to call evidence with regard to that. I suppose you cannot answer this question: What, if any, was the result of such legislation?—No, I cannot.

42. What do you think the effect, generally speaking, of the rabbit plague would be to the agriculture?—It depends entirely on the number, and whether this proved a congenial home for the rabbits; no one can tell. When I was a boy we had rabbits and they did no harm; in fact, they would not increase. I only speak of what I know. I know nothing of what they have done in the other States except of what I have read.

43. By Mr. Richardson: Perhaps you have read a great deal?—I have read a great deal.

44. By the Chairman: We are speaking of wild rabbits.—They were exactly the same; the grey rabbit.

45. By Mr. Richardson: Only one was not wild and the other was.—That is so, they were there long enough to adapt themselves to the changed conditions.

46. They were numerous?—Mr. Lott had them running about his sandalwood heap for a year or two.