Mr. J. W. White, continued.

It was an island when the tide was in, and when the tide was out it was only a peninsula. There was no sign of any rabbits, but any amount of opossums. We killed about a dozen opossums. There was not a sign of rabbits, and there are none there now. None of the other islands have rabbits on them.

611. As an inspector of rabbits you had no instructions from your department to carry out the provisions of this Act of 1885 as regards the destruction of rabbits on the islands?—No. I have not done anything towards the destruction of rabbits on the islands.

612. You have had no instructions to that effect?—No. I suggested it should be done; that the rabbits should be destroyed for fear people might bring them off. I do not think that any have been brought from that island, because it is very seldom touched.

613. By Mr. D. Forrest: Are there many there?—They are very thick.

614. And your suggestion was not acted upon?—No; I was not instructed in any way. I do not know whether the department have taken any steps.

615. By Mr. Loton: Was it a suggestion in writing or verbal?—No; in writing. I heard there were rabbits on an island near Rottnest. I knew there were a good many people near Kalgoorlie, and that rabbits might have been imported up there for sporting purposes. That is why I suggested it.

616. By the Chairman: As far as I can make out, these two Acts are the only legislation we have in this State on the rabbit question? —That is all.

617. As far as you are concerned you have never received any instructions to see they were carried out?—Other than that I had the first Act handed to me last December. That was the 1883 Act. I had my instructions when first appointed.

618. Have you ever impressed on the authorities your opinion that the fence is indispensable?—I have, in my first report; and when I made my first trip I felt sure it was the only thing that would ultimately benefit the State.

619. You have impressed that upon them?—I have, in almost all my reports. Even in my last report I impressed upon them the necessity of a fence.

620. Was there any truth in the report that rabbits have been found at Cape Le Grand and Frenchman's Peak?—There was a report.

621. That is somewhere west of Esperance?—Eighteen miles. I offered the man a reward of £5 if he would show me the track of a rabbit, or a rabbit that had been found there, but he declined; he had a little bit of ground down there. I went down and spent three days and found no trace. I am positive there are no rabbits there.

622. There was a scalp reward offered some time ago by the Government?—That was done at my suggestion. I felt inclined to suggest 10s. instead of half-a-crown, but I afterwards thought it probable that if I suggested that amount the Government would think it too large; therefore I suggested 2s. 6d. I suggested the area within which the reward should be paid.

623. How far did it extend?—Twenty five miles off Norseman, and 25 miles off Kurnalpi.

624. The reward was not to be general throughout the State?—I recommended it should not extend beyond that area.

625. By Mr. Harper: I want to know how you were going to prove the rabbits were got within that area?—The persons had to make a declaration before a Justice of the Peace, and if the declaration was inaccurate they would be liable for obtaining money under false pretences. I stipulated that.

626. By the Chairman: You would not recommend that the scalps should be taken for any period?—Only for a period of three months; that was safeguarded by having a declaration before a Justice of the Peace.

627. Your object was to test the number of rabbits in a certain locality?—Yes.

628. How many scalps has the reward been paid for?—Six.

629. Were the cats that were turned out useful in destroying the rabbits?—My opinion is that they were not of any use. They were turned out in the middle of the summer without water; they were town cats, and of course they died.

630. Is not the iguana better than the cat?—Yes. I have seen them in South Australia chasing half-grown rabbits. The rabbits cover their nests with clay; the iguana can burrow into this, but the cats will not.

631. By Mr. Richardson: Do you think it is possible to conserve or breed the iguana?—I do not think it is possible where the blacks are about. The blacks will bring in one rabbit and six iguanas.

632. Cannot you knock it out of them?—No.

633. How many rabbits have been killed since these lightly-equipped parties were sent out?—Young and old, about 100. I make them save the scalps, and I destroy them by burning. I have recommended that the scalp money be abolished since the parties have been sent out.

634. Have you recently seen Mr. A. Sheard, Inspector of Stock at Eucla?—No; I do not know him at all.

635. Will you tell us what steps have been taken by the Government with a view of ascertaining the severity of the present rabbit invasion?—I do not think any other steps have been taken than what I have told you. I have been continually travelling about since I have been appointed, reporting on the localities I have inspected. This was until the parties were appointed in January.

636. I am only asking you what steps have been taken by the Government with regard to ascertaining the severity of the present rabbit invasion?—That is all that has been done.