Mr. J. M. Craig, continued.

118. Therefore, does not that show the advisability of erecting a fence at once?—Yes; but the nature of that country is such as will enable a man to form a very fair idea s to where the rabbits are, because there are such stretches of worthless country, and here and there a patch of good country. Rabbits generally find this good country. I have been out a good deal on that country and Southern Cross way, and I know that, if there were rabbits there, men would not be long in finding where they were, if there is only a patch here and a patch there, four, five, or six miles away, that would keep anything.

119. Then you qualify your answer to that question, saying that you would rather fencing and the extermination go on together?—Yes.

120. Did not the Government of New South Wales offer £25,000 bonus for an effective invention for the extermination of rabbits?—Yes.

121. Do you know whether that bonus has been awarded?—It still remains unpaid.

122. Do you think it would be advisable if this State contributed, say, £10,000, or such other proportionate amount, towards the Federal Fund for an effective invention for the extermination of rabbits?—I do not. I think if £25,000 will not bring forth something, an extra £10,000 will not.

123. If £10,000 were contributed by this State (say £100,000 for the whole of Australia), the bigger the reward the greater the effort made?—I think £25,000 is sufficient to induce any man to put forth his best energies.

124. You do not think there is anything in that proposition?—No; I think it would be a waste of £10,000.

125. By Mr. Loton: It could not be wasted?—No; of course not. Well, it would be thrown away. The £25,000 would bring forth what £35,000 would have done.

126. £100,000 would be more fleabite to the whole of Australia?—Nothing at all.

127. Mr. Richardson: I suppose you mean in the nature of introducing some scientific disease.

128. By the Chairman: Some scientific disease?—I do not think an extra £10,000 could cause any of these scientists to introduce anything.

129. Are you aware that the Royal Commission of New South Wales, 1888, report that no finality in rabbit destruction can be obtained without rabbit-proof fencing first?—Yes; I remember that.

130. What is your choice of State-subsidised trapping and paying bonuses for scalps?—The conclusion arrived at by that Commission was that it led to an increase of the pest and a decrease in the treasury, and gave no good results whatever.

131. Has not this system been universally condemned?—Oh, yes.

132. Are not persons engaged in the supervision and destruction of rabbits more or less interested in the perpetuation of the pest?—Yes, they are. They have told me so themselves.

133. I do not say only those engaged in the destruction, but in the supervision?—Oh, well; it is hard to say. They like to keep their billets.

134. Have you heard the popular New South Wales phrase, "rich rabbiter and ruined squatter"?—Yes.

135. Have you had any experience of a rabbit plague and the dangers attendant on an invasion of rabbits?—Yes.

136. By Mr. Richardson: Any actual experience?—Only what I have read.

137. By the Chairman: Have you ever been in rabbit-infested countries?—I have only passed through them.

138. And you would not care to answer a question like this: For the prevention of an invasion, what methods have you adopted; if you have adopted none yourself, what measure have you seen adopted, and where? You may have seen some?—No; I have not seen any only what I have read.

139. You cannot say what would be the most effective methods?—Only fencing, trapping, and poison.

140. Do you think that in the past the authorities in Western Australia have been fully seized of the national danger to which this State has been exposed through this incursion of rabbits?—I do.

141. Do you think the authorities of this State are alive at the present time to the danger to which this State is exposed?—Yes; I do.

142. By Mr. Richardson: They have a funny way of showing it?—They have saved, perhaps, hundreds of thousands of pounds in the construction of worthless fences. Had fences been constructed earlier, no doubt rabbits would have been found to exist on this side, as they are known to exist, and have been so for some years, and another fence would have been necessary.

143. Mr Harper: It is more a political question than a practical one, I think.

144. By the Chairman: No. Mr. Craig, as a practical man on this question, might not have thought that all steps have been taken that might have been taken.—I would like you to remember this, that rabbits are now at considerably above Oodnadatta, in South Australia. If a fence had been constructed who knows but what rabbits would come across the desert now in that direction.

145. The object is to find out from Mr. Craig, as a sensible man, whether these authorities have been thoroughly seized of the gravity of this question, because I do not say that Ministers and others practically always agree on methods?—No.

146. At all events, you said you thought they were, thoroughly. I do not think that such a question as this is a political question: Do you think the authorities of this State are fully alive, at the present time, to the danger to which this State is exposed. My. Craig has better means of knowing the