Rabbits

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1446. Would you naturally conclude the experience he gained in Kimberley would be useful to us as to the class of country we should have to fence in for the first 300 or 400 miles?—I think you should avoid that country: it would be useless to run a fence in country where there is a sand drift. You might run into a better class of country and then go out again. I do not think information will be worth anything except by sending a surveyor out.

1447. If we were taking evidence on either of the lines of fence suggested here, would Mr. Hands be able to give evidence that would be useful for our purpose. What I mean is that the evidence by Mr. Hands would be of no value in regard to what he saw in the Kimberleys, to judge what class of fence should be erected in the Eucla district?—Oh, no.

1448. As you are the last witness we shall probably call, would you like to suggest that any further witnesses be called, or offer us any suggestion?—No; there was only Mr. Kidman who has had a great deal of experience in other countries: he told me he was willing to give evidence, but he is away from the State just now.

1449. Are there any questions you care to have put to you to elucidate everything you have said or to clear up matters?—I think not.

1450. By Mr. Wittenoom: Are you of the same opinion about the meat market?—You mistake me on that question. I say that so long as we are dependent in a great measure for our supplies from the Eastern States, no matter what supplies we have here, and so long as the meat market is in the hands of a few people, it will make no difference, because those people will keep the price up. It does not matter if they have to give £4 or £5 a head for prime bullocks at Kimberley, they will bring them down here and sell them alongside animals which they have paid £10 for.

1451. By the Chairman: There was one point in your evidence the other day you were asked about, and it is rather an important point. You were asked with regard to the report of rabbits at Point Cloates, on the North-West Cape?—When was that report made, do you remember? 1898, was it not?

1452. Why I say it is important (and I want it for the benefit of the Commission, too) is that I see that he reports not only having caught this one, but that tracks were numerous. Very well, that is practically in a pastoral district, and I should like to ask you whether you think some steps ought not to be taken at once for more thoroughly investigate this?—Steps were taken at the time.

1453. The only steps taken were to send a man and make a report?—Yes; well, what more could be done?

1454. I ask you about this as Inspector of Stock more than as a witness. Do you not think it would be advisable to look at that matter again?—Point Cloates is not a stock country.

1455. Yes; there are stock close there?—Surely, if there were rabbits, some of the stock owners would have seen them.

1456. A small quantity you might not see. I think the gentleman who sent down this report was not treated very well. He took the trouble to send a skin down, and when he asked to have the skin sent on to the Museum, the Stock Department told him it was lost?—I do not think the Stock Department did.

1457. I think it useful to be brought out, showing the indifference (I cannot help looking at it in that way) of the Stock Department not only in that case, but it is an example of indifference of the Stock Department in this very important matter?—Well, the Stock Department did all that I think reasonable people could do; that is to say, they sent a man down, or a local man, I think it was, if I remember rightly, to investigate the matter, and we could get no evidence to warrant any expenditure of the public money.

1458. Still, the other day, in asking you a question about these rabbits, you said the report was absolutely unreliable; practically those were your words?—Yes. I do not know who made the report.

1459. As a matter of fact, Mr. Carter is a scientific naturalist, a member of several learned societies?—He is not likely, then, to mistake a car for a rabbit, is he?

1460. He is not likely to mistake a car; but after he took a great deal of trouble and he wrote down various information, there was a reply that the skin was lost, "and we cannot do anything further?"—What good would that skin have been to any museum; mutilated, I suppose.

1461. If you had taken the trouble, as Inspector, to go and look at it, if it had not been lost, it would have convinced you that that report was not an unreliable report. That is the point I want to bring out?—Well, I do not know. There is a skin there now, and I wish someone would take it away. It came down from Widgiemooltha. A man came the other day and he got his coat covered in fur. I do not see what good there is in preserving the skin of a rabbit, as long as we believe the man. The man was believed, and a considerable amount (I think £20 to £30) was spent.

1462. I am bringing this point out because you did not believe him the other day?—He was believed that much that the Government sent a man down or employed someone on the spot, some reliable man. I do not remember the circumstances. I do not know what else you would expect the Government to do.

1463. Do you think it would be advisable to get a fresh report? It would not be a matter of very much expense. Do you think it would be an advisable matter to send somebody up there again, or to arrange with Mr. Carter?—Is Mr. Carter still there?

1464. The Chairman: He has just gone back.

1465. Mr. D. Forrest: I think that if the rabbits had been at the North-West of Point Cloates, we would have heard something about them.