Mr. R. W. A. Warren, continued.

1332. Yes; I see that. And from what you heard, from your close proximity to the Queensland border, their fencing was a success?—Yes.

1333. By Hon. R. G. Burges: Did they fence against the rabbits before the rabbits got over the border, or after?—The New South Wales people put up a fence before the rabbits got over the border, but they did not keep it in repair.

1334. It is Queensland I am asking about?—No rabbits invaded South Australia from Queensland.

1335. Where did the rabbits get through into Queensland? You say there are some 150 miles?—They worked through barrier fences at various points.

1336. How was it the fences were neglected?—Well, of course, it is such a fearful country to fence across.

1347. Ranges?—Ranges and rivers that are miles wide flood time, and small watercourses even.

1338. You do not think there would be that difficulty here from the country East?—In the goldfields country, I should say, there would be no difficulty in keeping the fence in good repair.

1339. There are no rivers there?—There are no rivers there, and the watercourses very seldom run.

1340. By the Chairman: From your experience of this country, is there any country in which you know drift sand would be a great impediment to the fence?—No; none, to my knowledge.

1341. By Mr. Richardson: Probably the fence would go, in the first place, through comparatively arid country. Do you think that the absence of watercourses, the rather uninhabited nature of the country, and other things are favourable for keeping out rabbits or otherwise?—I think they are very favourable towards keeping out rabbits by means of fencing.

1342. By aid of fencing?—By aid of fencing.

1343. By the Chairman: I see you proposed a motion at the Producers' Conference the other day, Mr. Warren?—Yes.

1344. Do you know whether yours is the first or second resolution that was passed?—Mine was the last one passed? "That in the opinion of this conference, the Government should adopt the policy of the Queensland authorities on the lines laid down by the Pastoral Lenses Extensions Act, 1892 and 1898, of the State, to help the pastoral lessees outside the South-West Division to keep their runs free from the incursions of the rabbit pest."

1345. That was carried unanimously?—Yes; that was the motion which was carried unanimously.

1346. Is this the first Producers' Conference you have been at?—Yes; it is the first I have had the honour of attending.

1347. Have you had any experience of the futility or otherwise of any motions passed at that Conference?—No I have never had any experience of such motions.

1348. By Hon. R. G. Burges: What about the motion that was moved at the latter part of the Conference?

1349. MR. HARPER: That has nothing to do with the Rabbit Commission.

1350. WITNESS: You refer to Mr. Yelverton's motion?

1351. HON. R. G. BURGES: Yes.

1352. WITNESS: I did not take it seriously.

1353. By the Chairman: It is your opinion that a fence somewhere in these, what we may all call central arid, districts is the best means of coping with this incursion?—Yes: I think it is the only thing that can be done, and I think that it will prove to be very successful in the end.

1354. That is supposing it is properly supervised and looked after?—Yes; supposing it is properly looked after and policed.

1355. By Mr. Richardson: I suppose the success or failure very much depends upon the supervision of it, does it not?—Yes.

1356. By Hon. R. G. Burges: have you any idea of the cost of supervising a fence like that?—I believe the practice in Queensland is to have one man ride eight, two or three mile stretches, looking after it.

1357. Backwards and forwards?—Yes.

1358. That is, one man 30 miles?—Yes.

1359. There would be one difficulty; that would be carrying the water. I suppose that boundary fence runs pretty well through pastoral country?—Well, not all of it.

1360. Not all of it?—No. Some of it through dry, waterless country.

1361. Country not utilised?—Yes; country not utilised.

1362. By the Chairman: Mr. Warren, is there anything else you can suggest you would like to be asked with reference to this question?—There is; about the nature of the country. On some kinds of country rabbits do not do well naturally, such as open stony plains. They will not live there, no matter how much food there is; that is, in great bodies. They will keep to sandhill country. I have seen in South Australia, to the North of Lake Blanch, where it is all rolling sandhills for hundreds of miles, the country completely eaten out. On the other side of what is known as Lake Crossing, a salt lake about half a-mile wide, you get a stony tableland; about half a-mile, you get good saltbush; in half a-mile you get into good grass, and there are only small warrens of rabbits scattered about here and there.