WEDNESDAY, 6th MARCH, 1901.

                                                                                                  — — — — — — 

                                                                                                         Present:
                                                                                        Mr. R. E. Bush, Chairman
                                                                Hon. R. G. Burges, M.L.C.           Mr. C. Harper, M.L.A.
                                                                Mr. D. Forrest, M.L.A.                  Mr. W. T. Loton
                                                                Mr. A. R. Richardson                   Mr. F. F. B. Wittenoom

                                                                                                 — — — — — — 

                                                                                   Mr. James Wharton White, examined.

534. By the Chairman: We have called you here to-day to get all the information you can give us on this matter. What is your present position in the Stock Department of this State?—Stock and Rabbit Inspector.

535. When were you appointed to that office?— On 1st December, 1899.

536. You were, I believe, interested in this matter in a private direction, as you have a farm at Esperance?—Yes, I have a farm at Dalyup, about 25 miles from Esperance.

537. Is that an agricultural or pastoral area?—An agricultural area.

538. You were, I believe, well posted in the rabbit question in South Australia, before you came here?—Yes, I had a great deal to do with rabbits in South Australia, both privately and in my public capacity.

539. You were a member of the South Australian Parliament?—Yes; for six years.

540. For what district?— The district of Light.

541. Was that a district in which the inhabitants were interested in the question of rabbits?—Yes, they were very bad North and East of this particular district, particularly on the River Murray.

542. You were, I believe, appointed Chairman of the Vermin Proof Fencing Commission, which sat in Adelaide in 1893?—I was offered the Chairmanship, but declined it because I thought I would otherwise have a freer hand in examining witnesses. The late Premier of South Australia, Mr. Holder, took the Chairmanship at my request, but shortly after that he got back into the Government, and I had to take up the acting Chairmanship, and so acted throughout the whole of the sittings of that commission, or the greater part of them; and I had to move the adoption of the Report in the Assembly, and the motion was carried at the time.

543. By vermin, I am told that rabbits were principally meant?—Yes; but dogs were meant as well, because where rabbits got thick dogs got thick.

544. Generally speaking, do you think that a rabbit-proof fence, properly erected and supervised, is the only means of effectually safeguarding the pastoral and agricultural interests of the State from the incursion of rabbits?—I am certain of it.

545. Have you inspected the country reported to be infested?—Yes; every portion with the exception of Eucla, where rabbits have been known to exist for a considerable time. All the country Westward, so far as rabbits have been reported; and places Eastward I have examined thoroughly.

546. Will you tell us where you actually know of rabbits, or where their unmistakable traces have been found. I think if you will do it on the chart it will be easier for us to follow you?—I will start at Thomas River, on the coast.

547. And as you go along, will you tell us the number of rabbits at the various places?—I have not actually seen rabbits there, but I have seen tracks and fresh droppings.

548. We do not want anything further than that you are certain rabbits are there.—They are there. Then, at Mt. Ragged. I see a place marked on the chart, Mt. Dean, as a place where rabbit are, but there were no rabbits there last February twelve months.

549. By Mr. Loton: Then you do not know, of your own knowledge, whether there are any farther North on the coast than the first place, or farther West?—No, there are none farther West; I am confident of that. I was there at the end of December last, when there were none farther West than Thomas River. They were reported from Frenchman's Peak; but I examined the district carefully, and there was not the sign of the rabbit.

550. Then the next point North of Mt. Ragged: Is there anything West of that?— Not West of that.

551. On that particular line?—No.

552. Will you show us the next Northerly and Westerly point you know of—Yes.

553. The Chairman: This chart was supplied by the Lands Office, in which department this matter is. I do not place a great deal of dependence on the information we get from the Lands Office, because they seem to know little on the subject.

554. By Mr. Richardson: The red spots on the chart show where rabbits are supposed to be?—This point is called Bill's Paddock. They were reported there by Page, about three years ago.

555. That is North-West of Israelite Bay?—Yes.