590. Are there any area with first-class country between Eucla and Balladonia?—Yes. I cannot speak personally of that , but I was informed by several who have gone there, notably Mr. Anderson. I would suggest you should get his evidence. He has just return to Norseman. I wired to him to know whether the rabbits had increased and I have not got a reply yet. He told me that for 200 or 300 miles the spear-grass was brushing along the pole of the buggy.

591. By Hon. R G. Burges: it is different there from ordinary spear-grass, is it not ?—No; the same as you get on the goldfields. It is green now; It has ben green on the country all the year between Eucla and Balladinia

592 By Mr Wittenoom; As a pastoral country it is no good?—When you get the least little shower it will shoot again. You cannot get better grass to stand through the summer. When the spear-grass is in seed it is bad for the stock.

593. By the Chairman: If you get that answer from Mr. Anderson before you go, will you hand it in?—I will. Probably he has not got back. he will be in the course of a day or two. I asked him whether he saw many rabbits on the road to Eucla. They have taken up a lot of country. I think 200,000 or 300,000 acres they have taken up. They have just imported 3,000 sheep into it from south Australia.

594. Do you think men will be found to take up this country for pastoral purposes, Knowing rabbits are so prevalent?—No; I do not think so. I think those who have not taken it up now will wait, and they are afraid. I should like to have a piece myself, but my experience of rabbits in South Australia teaches me it will be ruinous to have it unless something is done.

595. Under what Act were you appointed, Mr. White?—That I cannot tell you. I was not advised I was appointed under any Act; simply that I had been appointed.

596. Do you know the Destruction of Rabbit Act, 1885?—No; I know the 1883 Act.

597.There was an amendment of it in 1885?—Yes. I did not see a copy of that Act until Last December. I think there was an amendment of the 1883 Act. That was forwarded to me. I think one of the clauses was crossed out, if I remember correctly.

598. At all events you have seen the 1883 Act?—Yes.

599. And you say you have seen the amendment made in 1885?—It has never supplied to me I saw one to-day for the first time.

600. THE CHAIRMAN quoted a section of the Act, stipulating that every inspector appointed by the Governor under the provisions of the Act shall, not later than the last day of June in each year, send in a report to the Governor containing particulars as to whether any, and if any, what number of, rabbits have been reported to him or are known to exist in his district, and what steps he has taken for their destruction. (To the witness): Have you ever made that report?

601.Witness; No, I have not made that report. My instructions were to report as often as I could. I sent a report in every month, giving all the particular distances travelled, where I have been, and what I have seen, and the last report I sent in was on the 6th February. That was the January month's report.

602. That does not touch the point I want to bring out. Then this section goes on to say each report shall be laid before the Legislative Council (that is the Parliament of the State) at the next sitting thereof?—Yes, I have seen that to-day. I did not know it was necessary to do it. I went on my instructions to send in my report monthly, or as nearly so as I could. Sometimes one is further out, or there may be something which would make me stop, and perhaps I would be a little late getting in, but as soon after as possible I sent my report in.

603.THE CHAIRMAN: I think it is important Parliament should have an official report before them according to the act. Of course, nobody sees these monthly or weekly reports.

604 MR LOTON: These reports that the inspectors sent in were very important. They were not in conformity with the Act of parliament, but the inspector sent in his report as directed, and if there has been any laxity, the laxity lies with the Government or Minister. These monthly report are quite as good, and they might just as well have been laid before Parliament.

605. THE CHAIRMAN: My point is that the Act specifically says that it is to be done .The Act absolutely states that the inspectors must lay the yearly report, at all events, before Parliament. That has not been done; and moreover, of course these weekly and monthly report have not been laid before Parliament.

606. MR. LOTON: I do not know whether they have ben laid before Parliament or not , but it appears this inspector has carried out his instructions, and there has been any laxity, the laxity has been with the Government or Minister, and these monthly reports were just as good.

607. By the Chairman: In that 1883 Act there was a clause saying that rabbits might be kept on islands within five miles of the seaboard, but that was repealed by the 1885 Act?—If I remember aright, that was the clause crossed out in the Act supplied to me . It was crossed out; repealed. I think that was the intimation I have had with regard to the amendment.

608. Are the numerous islands about Esperance rabbit infested? —Not close to Esperance nearest is about 60 miles away, but only about five miles from the mainland.

609. Will you point out that place and mark it in red? —(Witness did as requested) The rabbits there, I am told are nearly all black. In the other cases they are nearly all grey. When they get to the black stage they are degenerating.

610. Is that an island nearest the coast you know of rabbit being on? —Yes. They were reported five or six years ago at the Duke of Orleans Bay. I went and had a look at it.