Mr. J. M. Craig, continued.

inmost mind of the authorities we have. We may think they are thoroughly alive to the importance of this question or not. We want to get an opinion from him whether he thinks they are or not?—Well, I think so, especially when your Chairman has been told that the Government are quite prepared to construct a fence, and to find the money to construct a fence. It shows they are in earnest, and quite prepared to do anything you recommend.

147. You know what private conversations are worth?—Oh, yes.

148. 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 of this matter?—Well, it will be a very big question if they are going on with this question, and it will involve an immense amount of work, and I think it would be just as well if something was done in that direction.

149. This is a question you will be able to answer: the danger being one of such importance, what, in your opinion, should be the most practical methods adopted to deal with the rabbit difficulty?—There are no other means but fencing. It is only a question of cost.

150. We are not going into that?—I say that, in my opinion, if a proper fence could be constructed, within the means of this country, and it could be kept up in repair, a fence is the most practical way.

151. You just told me the Government had promised to erect a fence?—Yes; that is the small arm you suggested.

152. Two hundred miles?—Yes.

153. By Mr. Richardson: I do not think you have quite touched the question yet, Mr. Craig. We accept the fact that rabbits have come here to Western Australia in more or less numbers, and we have also accepted the responsibility that they may increase, and the Government either must or must not take effective preventive measures. They must either leave the thing alone, and throw up the sponge, and say "We cannot," or they should say to the Chief Inspector of Stock, "What steps would you recommend the Government to take in the question?"—I have recommended a fence in my report.

154. By the Chairman: That is your answer to this question?—Yes.

155. By Mr. Richardson: Any other auxiliary matters?—I recommended a fence from about 121 degrees of longitude right through to the 90-Mile Beach.

156. Where from?—The 121st degree.

157. By the Chairman: That is only general?—You would not go straight across. You would meet with lakes, and you would have to select your country as you went along.

158. By Mr. Richardson: Would that fence cross the present line of railway?—It would have to.

159. Where about?—It depends upon the nature of the country it would have to pass through. If it came through faovurable country right ahead, I would say the straighter the better; but there are so many lakes in that country.

160. By the Chairman: You will admit it is a very important point, in the erecting of that fence, whether the railway is to be avoided and gone round or whether it is to be crossed?—You must cross the railway, because the railway intersects the infested country. The proposed line is here (indicated).

161. Then your answer to that question is, definitely, that you think the fence is the most practical method of dealing with this invasion in the first instance?—Yes.

162. And you have recommended that fence should be run right through the State?—Right through.

163. Have you any experience of the migratory habits of rabbits?—Only what I have been told from experienced men. They tell me that rabbits only have a littler of young ones, and then they migrate.

164. Do you mean the progeny or the parents?—I think it is the progeny who migrate three or four miles farther on.

165. By the Chairman: In migration, what course do the rabbits usually proceed?—I am told they go North and West; that has been our experience. I should think, however, they would be guided in a great measure by the food.

166. The Chairman.—But the conditions being equal and favourable, their direction is generally Northerly and North-Westerly.

167. By Mr. Richardson: Have they a preference for points of the compass?—I could not say that.

168. By the Chairman: You cannot say that?—I know there is a theory that sheep, when they get away, travel North or South.

169. You have no experience?—I have no experience.

170. Are there any other peculiarities of habit which you have noticed in rabbits when travelling?—No; I know nothing about that.

171. In travelling, do rabbits keep constantly going forwards, or do they journey in stages?—I could not say.

172. Do you find that rabbits can get over fences?—I could not say.

173. What length of fencing, in your opinion, would be required immediately to check the present invasion of rabbits?—Well, from the coast by the red line on the map to fifty miles above Yerilla. You must check them along the coast, because they are coming in large numbers along the coast.