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Rabbits

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Revision as of 04:17:13, Oct 26, 2018
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Revision as of 06:34:41, Oct 26, 2018
Edited by LisaK
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(d.) That, owing to the apathy of the responsible authorities in the past, and their utter want of appreciation of the danger this State was incurring through the ascertained progress of the rabbit invasion, your Commissioners are unfortunately compelled to advocate a fence over 500 miles West of the boundary of the state, so that millions of acres of pastoral country will be left open to the ravages of the rabbits, and consequently lost to useful occupation. This national loss would, in all probability, have been obviated had steps been taken in reasonable time to check this incursion in its early stages.
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(d.) That, owing to the apathy of the responsible authorities in the past, and their utter want of appreciation of the danger this State was incurring through the ascertained progress of the rabbit invasion, your Commissioners are unfortunately compelled to advocate a fence over 500 miles West of the boundary of the State, so that millions of acres of pastoral country will be left open to the ravages of the rabbits, and consequently lost to useful occupation. This national loss would, in all probability, have been obviated had steps been taken in reasonable time to check this incursion in its early stages.
  
2. Your Commissioners are convinced that a properly constructed and well maintained fence of wire netting, 42 inches wide, with a mesh of not less that 1½ inches, and not lighter than 17 gauge, B grade, with  barbed and plain wires, is absolutely the only means of checking the incursion of rabbits. They  advise that such a fence be erected well to the Westward of the present known infested areas, starting from the Southern Ocean in the vicinity of Fitzgerald Inlet, and extending Northwards to the Indian Ocean, at La Grange Bay, subject to such deviations as experience and more detailed observation may suggest. ( Map of the state with proposed line of fence and ascertained position of rabbits attached hereto.) Should the Kimberley Districts be, in the later years, threatened, a separate fence will have to be constructed. The evidence shows that there is nothing in the nature of the country, or its configuration, that offers any insurmountable obstacle to the erection and efficient upkeep of such a fence. At first sight, the question of water no doubt presents difficulties but there should be nothing in the connection beyond what ordinary bush intelligence and enterprise could cope with successfully. We estimate the cost of such a fence, as recommended, at from £55 to £70 per mile, according to locality, distance to cart, and other variable contingencies. Your Commissioners consider that even should rabbits get through the fence, either by accident or through the action of unprincipled people, the fence would in no way become a failure, because the few rabbits that did get through would find their natural enemies, and the artificial methods of extermination employed by the boundary riders, equal to the task of keeping them under.
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2. Your Commissioners are convinced that a properly constructed and well maintained fence of wire netting, 42 inches wide, with a mesh of not less that 1½ inches, and not lighter than 17 gauge, B grade, with  barbed and plain wires, is absolutely the only means of checking the incursion of rabbits. They  advise that such a fence be erected well to the Westward of the present known infested areas, starting from the Southern Ocean in the vicinity of Fitzgerald Inlet, and extending Northwards to the Indian Ocean, at La Grange Bay, subject to such deviations as experience and more detailed observation may suggest. (Map of the State with proposed line of fence and ascertained position of rabbits attached hereto.) Should the Kimberley Districts be, in the later years, threatened, a separate fence will have to be constructed. The evidence shows that there is nothing in the nature of the country, or its configuration, that offers any insurmountable obstacle to the erection and efficient upkeep of such a fence. At first sight, the question of water no doubt presents difficulties but there should be nothing in the connection beyond what ordinary bush intelligence and enterprise could cope with successfully. We estimate the cost of such a fence, as recommended, at from £55 to £70 per mile, according to locality, distance to cart, and other variable contingencies. Your Commissioners consider that even should rabbits get through the fence, either by accident or through the action of unprincipled people, the fence would in no way become a failure, because the few rabbits that did get through would find their natural enemies, and the artificial methods of extermination employed by the boundary riders, equal to the task of keeping them under.
  
 
3. Your Commissioners suggest that the four hundred (400) miles of fence between Fitzgerald Inlet and Survey mark NB 49  be at once undertaken; and to ensure rapidity of construction, the contractor be bound to simultaneously start operations with one party working North from the railway line, another party South from the railway line, a third party working North from Fitzgerald Inlet, and other parties from any other convenient starting points.
 
3. Your Commissioners suggest that the four hundred (400) miles of fence between Fitzgerald Inlet and Survey mark NB 49  be at once undertaken; and to ensure rapidity of construction, the contractor be bound to simultaneously start operations with one party working North from the railway line, another party South from the railway line, a third party working North from Fitzgerald Inlet, and other parties from any other convenient starting points.

Revision as of 06:34:41, Oct 26, 2018

(d.) That, owing to the apathy of the responsible authorities in the past, and their utter want of appreciation of the danger this State was incurring through the ascertained progress of the rabbit invasion, your Commissioners are unfortunately compelled to advocate a fence over 500 miles West of the boundary of the State, so that millions of acres of pastoral country will be left open to the ravages of the rabbits, and consequently lost to useful occupation. This national loss would, in all probability, have been obviated had steps been taken in reasonable time to check this incursion in its early stages.

2. Your Commissioners are convinced that a properly constructed and well maintained fence of wire netting, 42 inches wide, with a mesh of not less that 1½ inches, and not lighter than 17 gauge, B grade, with barbed and plain wires, is absolutely the only means of checking the incursion of rabbits. They advise that such a fence be erected well to the Westward of the present known infested areas, starting from the Southern Ocean in the vicinity of Fitzgerald Inlet, and extending Northwards to the Indian Ocean, at La Grange Bay, subject to such deviations as experience and more detailed observation may suggest. (Map of the State with proposed line of fence and ascertained position of rabbits attached hereto.) Should the Kimberley Districts be, in the later years, threatened, a separate fence will have to be constructed. The evidence shows that there is nothing in the nature of the country, or its configuration, that offers any insurmountable obstacle to the erection and efficient upkeep of such a fence. At first sight, the question of water no doubt presents difficulties but there should be nothing in the connection beyond what ordinary bush intelligence and enterprise could cope with successfully. We estimate the cost of such a fence, as recommended, at from £55 to £70 per mile, according to locality, distance to cart, and other variable contingencies. Your Commissioners consider that even should rabbits get through the fence, either by accident or through the action of unprincipled people, the fence would in no way become a failure, because the few rabbits that did get through would find their natural enemies, and the artificial methods of extermination employed by the boundary riders, equal to the task of keeping them under.

3. Your Commissioners suggest that the four hundred (400) miles of fence between Fitzgerald Inlet and Survey mark NB 49 be at once undertaken; and to ensure rapidity of construction, the contractor be bound to simultaneously start operations with one party working North from the railway line, another party South from the railway line, a third party working North from Fitzgerald Inlet, and other parties from any other convenient starting points.

4. Your Commissioners are of opinion that making of rabbits or their skins a profitable article of commerce be condemned, and that the system of professional rabbiters and State subsidised bonuses is radically bad.

5. Your Commissioners regret they have had to leave much good land outside the proposed fence, and would suggest that settlers in those parts be assisted by Government to rabbit-proof fence their holdings or groups of holdings.

6. Your Commissioners recommend that a pamphlet, describing the most approved method of fencing and the various means of extermination, be prepared for the guidance of occupiers of land.