Mr. J. W. White continued 40

709. By Mr. Loton: And destroyed the rabbits?—A few rabbits will get through the fence at different times. Of course they will be destroyed. I have pointed out in all my reports that it is very different here from what it is in other States. There they are small farmers, gardeners, and graziers, and they have one object in view, to get rid of the rabbits. Here they have not. At least they would if they would look after their own interests, but they will not look far enough ahead.

710. Taken as a whole the goldfields community are opposed to the rabbits being kept out of the goldfields district?—They are opposed to their being kept out of the State at all.

711. By the Chairman: You can only give us a rough idea of the kind of country this fence would go over about 50 miles from the coast?—That is all, about 50 miles from the coast. I should give you a very bad description of the other country, because I have not been through it.

712. What would be the confirmation of that country with regard to the fence? Would it be good fencing country?—Yes; good fencing country.

713. Would it be much broken up by watercourses, gullies, or gutters?—No. You could get away from Starvation Harbour and you could miss all the creeks, and get right out here (indicated). You would miss all the watercourses. You might have to deviate in one or two places 200 or 300 yards, and you might strike a salt lake. I do not think you would strike any salt lakes in the first 50 miles.

714. By Hon. R. G. Burges: That scrub country would have to be cleared of scrub?—Yes; but the first 25 miles is sand-plain country.

715. That would be heavy scrub?—No, it is not.

716. Some of it?—Oh, no; I have been through it two or three times, from Starvation Harbour. I was inspecting stock back from the coast. You could take a line through there where you would not have more than about 10 miles of scrub.

717. That would have to be cleared?—That would be have to be cleared. That is in the first 50 or 60 miles.

718. By the Chairman: You could get plenty of timber along that?—Yes. You would get paper bark for the first 20 miles. After that, sheaoak and mallee.

719. Are those considered good standing timbers?—Sheaoak stands well, but paper bark is the best you can use.

720. You think there would be no difficulty along that line you propose, as far as you know of it?—As far as I know. I only know to that distance back. I would not like to say what the country is like outside that. It might be scarce of timber, and I believe it would be pretty dry country.

721. By Hon. R. G. Burges: The country is pretty similar to that other country you have been through. You can cut timber almost anywhere, can you not?—Yes. I do not know that anyone has been through that country.

722. Hon. R. G. Burges: Who has been through the whole of it?

723. By the Chairman: Do you consider time the essence of the matter with regard to this question of fencing?—I do, and I have pointed that out in all my reports; that unless the fencing is done immediately, it will be useless.

724. And you consider the danger of invasion so imminent that it brooks of no delay in the erection of this fence?—Yes; that is my opinion.

725. You think a delay even of weeks may, if persisted in, cause a very great increase of expenditure hereafter?—Yes. I think the work should be pushed on this present winter, if possible. We have had two or three very good seasons, there is good feed, and it could probably be taken there at a less price now than if you had to start work in the summer.

726. Have you had any experience of losses (your own personal losses) from rabbits?—Yes; on the Murray, in the hundreds of Lindley and Eba. There are rabbits were blocked on the East side by the Murray. Then, again, we had at Overland Corner 600 square miles of pastoral country, and the rabbits were blocked by the Murray. They ate everything edible for sheep; ate back for 90 miles. Then they got back into better country, into Eba and Lindley, and they ate that out. You would see grass waving three feet high. You would go up there a day or two afterwards and you would see it was as bare as the road. They had eaten it out straight off the face, just as though you had cut it off with a scythe almost. There would be a few stalks. Those coming behind would finish them.

727. By Mr. Loton: They are numerous?—I have poisoned 2,000 at a small dam with these sandlewood trees or sugarwood trees in one night.

728. By the Chairman: Do you think that in the past the people of Western Australia have been fully seized of the national danger to which this State has been exposed through this incursion of rabbits?—No; I do not think they have recognised what it has caused people in other States. I do not think they have had the opportunity.

729. Do you think the people in this State are fully alive at the present time to the danger to which this State is exposed?—They are beginning to wake up now, but it will be too late if they do not do something very shortly.

730. By Hon. R. G. Burges: There is a portion of the population who want them?—Oh, yes, the goldfields people; well, they want them, but if they looked to their own interest they would not want them, and if they will not protect their own interest I think others should endeavour to do it for them. I certainly think it is to the interests of the country to block the rabbits now and make use of the experience people have had in other States.

731. Do you think it expedient that a special sub-department under the Lands Department be created with an officer directly responsible for the effective dealing with this matter?—Well, I think it would take one or two men all their time to deal with the question.