Mr. J. M. Craig. continued,

244. Would it not be better to mount the boundary fence riders on bicycles in preference to horses or camels?—I certainly think so.

245. Would it not be advisable to make damage to any rabbit-proof fence a penal matter?—Certainly.

246. Would it not be advisable to make the leaving open of a gate in a rabbit-proof fence a penal matter; also to cause cattle or sheep to be confined, encamped, or shut in against any rabbit-proof fence?—Certainly.

247. Do you consider, as I asked you before, that netting 42 inches high with a mesh of 1½ inches in diameter and a 17-inch gauge wire a suitable and effective fence?—I should be guided entirely by the recommendation of Morgan.

248. What can you tell us about the cost per mile for such a fence?—The latest estimate I have seen is that it could be done for £45 per mile; but that, I expect, is where timber is plentiful.

249. By Mr. Loton: There would be the carting?—It will be the carting that will cost money with us.

250. By the Chairman: That is the point?—On which I cannot give an opinion; it depends entirely on the cost of carting.

251. Do you think it would be wise to issue circulars throughout the State on the subject of the best kind of fence that could be erected to secure holdings against the rabbit invasion? I ask you the question, because there is no reason why people who are fencing should not be advised as far as possible in this matter.—I think so; I quite agree with you.

252. I know a case where a man has many tons of wire netting which are absolutely useless for rabbits?—I think it would be a very good thing to issue circulars. If a Bill is likely to be brought in making fencing compulsory, it would be just as well to let people know the kind of fence they are expected to erect.

253. There may be instances where a man does not believe in wire fences, or does not know the proper sort, whereas if a circular were issued he would probably see that, at a little extra cost, he could make his property rabbit proof?—Yes; Warren, who has taken up land, intended to fence against rabbits.

254. By Mr. Harper: He has done so.—Has he?

255. How do emus deal with this fencing?—I do not know; they are terrors.

256. By the Chairman: Do you consider that time is the essence of the matter with regard to this question?—I think that anything that is to be done should be done at once.

257. Do you consider the danger of invasion is so imminent that it brooks no delay in the erection of a fence?—That is a question. I do not see the same danger as some people do in connection with the rabbits, because we have no evidence to show those already here are increasing. I do not know sufficient about the matter to say whether the danger is imminent. I have recommended a fence, on the assumption that the rabbits are going to commit depredation that will be ruinous to the settlers. They had that in evidence. On the strength of that, I recommended a fence, and the sooner that fence is erected the better.

258. By Mr. Richardson: And you want that fence to be inside where the rabbits are?—Inside where the rabbits are.

259. If the rabbits are coming all the time?—The sooner the fence is put up the better.

260. Are not delays dangerous in that sense?—Undoubtedly.

261. The CHAIRMAN: You did not altogether answer this question: Do you consider the danger of invasion so imminent that it brooks of no delay in erection of fence?

262. MR. HARPER: The invasion is not imminent; it has taken place.

263. By the CHAIRMAN: Well, the progress of the invasion, it properly ought to be worded?—I consider that the fence should be erected without delay.

264. Do you consider that every delay in dealing with this matter, even of weeks, may, if persisted in, cause a very great increase of expenditure hereafter?—Yes.

265. Will you get up those points of which I asked you, and which you were not prepared to answer off-hand?—The amount of money that has been expended. I think, is about the only one, is it not?

266. Yes, I think so?—Only that one.

267. You could send this, of which you will have a copy, to your officer?—Yes.

268. By Mr. Richardson: We have heard of the expression "rabbit industry," and forming an industry out of the invasion of rabbits. In any large area of country fully stocked up with rabbits, and the same area fully stocked up with sheep, what would you consider would be the produce or advantage generally of the rabbit industry as compared with the sheep?—I could not possibly answer that, which plain country which would keep a great many rabbits, that would not keep sheep at all, and if that country was sufficiently fenced it might pay very well to keep rabbits.

269. But would you even go to the extent of instituting a comparison between a country's stock of sheep and a country's stock of rabbits?—No. I have seen it in the Australasian that some countries were paying better to keep rabbits than sheep, and we have a tremendous lot of bad country in Western Australia, which, no doubt, would keep rabbits and not sheep.

270. I am told it is costing about £2 for £1?—They spend a tremendous lot of money there in guarding against rabbits, in fencing and extermination.