94. By the Chairman: Going back to this point, I see that the Royal Commission in New South Wales in 1888 reported that the system of compulsory destruction by professional trappers is radically bad. Do you hold with this view?—Where rabbits are only found in very small colonies, I think the proper thing is to exterminate them.

95. I think you hardly seize this question. I refer to professional trappers?—I do not believe in them.

96. I find also that the Queensland Conference of 1888 passed a resolution that it should be penal to pay head money for destroying rabbits, or in any way deal, use, or preserve their skins or carcasses as articles of commerce. Do you agree with the substance of this resolution?—Yes. That, of course, is, again, where rabbits are numerous. We are doing the same thing now.

97. If they were not numerous, they would not become an article of commerce?—No.

98. At the Intercolonial Rabbit Conference in 1895 it was recommended that the duty on netting should be abolished; netting be carried free by railway when sheep or cattle trucks, which would otherwise run empty, could be used; that the State supply netting to landholders, charging 4 per cent. interest per annum; that for destruction, primarily netting, poison water, trapping at tanks, phosphorised pollard, poisoned twigs, and pit tilt traps along the line of netting, are effective methods. From your knowledge and reading, do you think those would be advisable regulations to make here. Of course we do not ask you definitely, but generally, the substance?—I should think, if we were going in to deal with the destruction of rabbits on the same lines as in the other States, it would be a very good thing to adopt the same course.

99. The Queensland Rabbit Board Act of 1895 empowers owners to obtain fencing from Government by paying 5 per cent. interest per annum on cost. That comes under the other question ? - Yes ; that is very reasonable.

100. This is a question you will be able to answer: Have the parties sent out by the Government to destroy the rabbits accomplished the object in view?—They have not had time. They have destroyed all the colonies where they have found them.

101. They have destroyed all the colonies?—Where they have found them.

102. Do you mean to say they have destroyed every rabbit in the colonies?—I believe two have escaped. that is on record; two out of one colony. At the largest colony, Widgiemooltha, there are very few.

103. Have they destroyed them?—So far as I know. They are carting up water 15 miles to some place. Mr. White can answer this question. You must bear in mind that we are not attempting the extermination of the rabbits on the coast, where they are numerous. It is only inland.

104. I understand that. Do you think the parties sent out by the Government are worth the money they are costing the country?—Yes; because they have located the rabbits at places where they were not known to exist before, and thus enable the Government, if they decide to start a fence, to start it at the spot know to be ahead; whereas, if they had started before, on the recommendations of other men, they would have been starting behind the rabbits.

105. Do you think, after the erection of a fence, the remedy for extermination of ploughing a furrow and laying poisoned grain in it worth of adoption?—No; not for many years.

106. Do you think it would be wise to issue circulars throughout the State on the subject of the various modes of rabbit destruction?—I think it would be a little premature.

107. In spite of the evidence we have from the whole of Australia?—Well, of the whole population of the rabbit-infested areas you may say nine-tenths are in favour of the rabbits, so they would not take any notice of the circulars.

108. It is pretty clearly established that these rabbits are travelling pretty well at the rate of a hundred miles a year?—Yes.

109. It will not be very long before they come into what we call the settled areas; but do you think the suggestion premature, at all events?—I do.

110. By Hon. R. G. Burges: Even in those parts where the rabbits are?—Yes, I do. I do not think that a bit of notice would be taken of it.

111. Not even settlers?—We know Mr. Ponton, the most concerned of all. He told me distinctly the rabbits were on the station three years ago, when he wanted to sell it. He said, "Of course I said nothing about it then, but they were on my place."

112. By Mr. Wittenoom: He told me he had only seen one rabbit on the station?—The fact of one having been seen does not prove that there are no others there.

113. By the Chairman: Before adopting any method of extermination, do you consider the fence is indispensable?—No. You said before adopting any method of extermination. I should think the first thing to do would be to have parties ahead of the rabbits, and to destroy all those they might find; the advance guards. That should be carried on in conjunction with the fencing.

114. In conjunction with it?—Yes; in conjunction.

115. Do you say that parties should be sent out to find any rabbits they might come across. Over this huge patch of country is it not absolutely impossible to locate all the various colonies of rabbits?—Undoubtedly.

116. You must allow, as a man of common sense, that these parties which go out may pass close to rabbits?—Within 100 yards.

117. And not find them?—Yes.