MR A MASON, continued.

1087. By Mr Richardson: Of course, you recollect in 1896, when I was Minister for Lands, my projecting and fitting out an exploring party to investigate and report on the extent and nature of a reported rabbit invasion, and appointing you as leader?—Yes.

1088. Did you at the time gather from the instructions I gave you, both oral and written, that should the Government find that rabbits were encroaching on West Australian territory, I intended advising prompt preventative measures, and that part of your mission was to examine the country so as to be in a position to recommend the best locality and direction for a rabbit-proof fence? I want you to say whether you gathered that?—I gathered that, certainly.

1089. We had several conversations, and you received written instructions about the whole question?—Yes.

1090. And did you gather that was the idea?—That was the idea; I quite understood that.

1091. After you had returned and sent in your report, and had interviewed me on more than one occasion, did you conclude that I was still impressed with the urgent necessity of erecting a fence, and keeping men down there to keep the rabbits in check, or that I had given up the idea?—No, you had not given it up.

1092. You thought that it still was my wish?—Yes, quite true.

1093. You have been asked as to the nature of the country you passed through, and therefore I will not take you over that matter again. Would you just tell the Commission whether in your travels you came across any country which you consider presents special difficulties in the way of keeping up a rabbit-proof fence? Did you see such a thing as sand drift, to blow over the fence?—No, certainly not. If they had put a fence at the border there and run straight along the boundary line (Wilson's Bluff) say, for 120 or 130 miles, and then put another fence at Point Dover and run it askew, it would have saved all this country there.

1094. In addition to this expedition, I believe you have been on one or two other expeditions and survey parties for the Government?—Yes, I was assistant with Mr Brazier in 1894.

1095. Where from?—We ran the survey line from Coolgardie to the Murchison and Mount Margaret. I was assistant, and we had Mr Newman with us as second in command. The following year I went as Mr Newman's assistant again, when he was in command. We ran out to Mount Margaret up to Lake Way and on to Weld Springs on the Murchison. After that trip I came back, and was surveying on the Lower Blackwood, and from there I went on rabbit expedition.

1096. What we want from you is information as to whether on all these expeditions you came across any country that would present exceptional difficulties to the erection of a rabbit-proof fence, such difficulties as are presented by sand drift and broken country?—The great objection in this country would not be so much the sand drift. The object would be to get away from the salt lakes.

1097. We understand that you have to avoid these?—We have to go round the hills and the lakes.

1098. Yes I see. As we have just ascertained, you have travelled over a large part of Western Australia, and have met with various kinds of country. I believe you have been in other parts of Australia?—Yes, in New South Wales. I have not been much in Victoria, but I have been a bit in South Australia.

1099. Have you been where rabbits are in large numbers?—I have been where the rabbits are simply in millions. I have sat beside the theodolite and thrown stones at them.

1100. Have you noticed anything peculiar in the Western Australian pastures, or conditions of the country, that would lead you to suppose as a practical man that rabbits would not flourish once they got a footing here?—No, I think that it is the biggest mistake in the world. People seem to imagine that the country down there is barren; but there the rabbits will flourish and get everything they want. Kangaroos do without water, and so can rabbits. I fancy my prophecy as to where the rabbits would be every year is not very far out. I think rabbits have been found everywhere as prophesied they would be found; and they will be found closer year after year, unless there is something done to stop them.

1101. There is nothing to stop them flourishing and increasing?—Absolutely nothing.

1102. What is your opinion (of course it is only an opinion) as to where the rabbits have struck from? Have you thought out the question?—I have not thought it out, but I can give a very fair answer. Rabbits were at Fowler's Bay many years ago along the coast, and then they were at Oodnadatta, and all through the South Australian country. They worked up over the Warburton Ranges down to Coolgardie (it is all good country) and there is nothing to stop them.

1103. That is where you think the rabbits have struck?—They most likely strike Oodnadatta, and come on over the Warburton Ranges—all fine pastoral country—and so on to Menzies. I know the country right through, and the rabbits can live on spinifex in the same way as other animals.

1104. Supposing a fence had been erected at that time, in order to save the Eucla country, do you think it would have been practicable to have so continued the fence as to check the rabbits coming from Oodnadatta West?—I cannot say that. But still, at the same time, it would have been so practicable to have saved a vast stretch of country which would have been a big asset to the State.

1105. Do you think it would have been practicable, had we been acquainted with the inroad of rabbits, to hook on the fence and run away so as to intercept the Westward inroad from Oodnadatta?—You could have done so, but what would have been the good? It would have been better to get a fence round so as to get the rabbits in the desert.

1106. To enclose them in?—There is only spinifex and sand there.

1107. We would just like you to suggest from your experience of the country, as to where this rabbit-proof fence ought to be erected?—I could not do that, because I do not know exactly where the rabbits are.