RABBIT CONFERENCE 



REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS. 



FIRST DAY QTH MARCH, 1897. 



THE Conference met at 10 a.m., and the following gentlemen took part in the deliberations: 



John McAneney, Trundle. A. L. P. Cameron, Ivanhoe. 



A. T. Brooke, Boggabri. J. Flanagan, Gunbar. 



Alfred Brown, Narrabri. F. A. Oatley, at the invitation of the Minister for 



A. Cudmore, Wentworth. Lands. 



John Dill, Hay. E. Hayes, at the invitation of the Minister for Land*. 



F. W. Bacon, Brewarrina. H. G. Freeman, at the invitation of the Minister for 



Philip Oakden, Cobar. Lands. 



J. Wilkes, Broken Hill. A. H. M'Collough, Deniliquin. 



J. W. Brougham, Menindic and Wilcannia. E. A. Stinson, Coolamon. 



A. Laurence. Balranald. P. E. Brett, Tirana. 



T. S. Pearse, Orange. J. J. Baylis, Narrandera. 



T. C. Worboys, Orange. C. F. Bo'lton, Wagga Wagga. 



E. T. B. Gad'eu, Dubbo. Or. C. Little, Bullock Creek North. 



T. Leslie, Forbes. T. Brown, M.L.A., Budgerabong. 



A. Anderson, Corowa. T. Looney, Bullock Creek South. 



W. P. Lawry, at the invitation of the Minister for E. II. Maund, O'Connel. 



Lands. E. II. Kirkpatrick, Nyngan. 



J. Hayes, M.L.A , Deniliquin. John Ward, Nyngan. 



H. C. Taylor, Department of Lands. G. Davidson, Condobolin. 



W. H. Armstrong, Canonbar. E. Locke, Macquarie. 



J. E. Black, Warialda. J. E, Varcoe, Hillston. 



C. Fetherstonhaugh, Coonabarabran. A. Cumming, Hillston. 



J. II. Daviee, Gunnedah. S. Nixon, Guubar. 

 JohnM. Atkinson, at the invitation of the Minister P. J. Gorman, Berrigan. 



for Lands. J. E. Cook, West Beringerry. 



W. A lison, Canonbar. W. E. Moore, Goodooga. 



E. Gibson, Hay. T. H. Hassall, M.L.A , Moree. 

 Hon. Eupert Carington, Jerilderie. 



The Honorable J. H. CAHUUTIIERS, Minister for Lands, in opening the proceedings, said : 



The object he had in calling this Conference together was in order that those who were most 

 interested in rabbits might have some say in the legislation with respect to their destruction. He did not 

 wish to interfere in any way with their deliberations ; they could elect their own Chairman and deal with 

 the business before them in the way which best suited themselves; but before leaving them he would like 

 to say a few words with reference to this most important matter. 



The Conference which was held in 1895, was representative of the interests of land-owners affected 

 by the rabbit pest, and lie had no doubt a great many were here to-day representing practically the same 

 interests as they represented then. The result of the deliberations of that body was that the various 

 recommendations which they had submitted to him were embodied in a Bill, which was introduced into 

 Parliament in August last, and which was now before them. Great diversity of opinion existed among 

 the different Stock and Pasture Boards on the provisions of this Bill. Some agreed with it, some thought 

 it needed considerable amendment, whilst others condemned it altogether. What he complained of was 

 that after having called a number of experts together and obtained their advice, when he put it into cold 

 type many of them turned their backs on their own recommendations. Ho therefore wished that when 

 the present Conference had made up their minds they would stick to their resolutions and not repudiate 

 them three or four months afterwards. He did not want them to leave their business until they had 

 drafted a Bill, for which purpose he would supply them with a draftsman ; and when they had done that, 

 let them submit it to him and he would sit down calmly and criticise it, as they had criticised his Bill. 

 He did not want bald recommendations which would afterwards not be recognised. 



The resolutions adopted at the last Conference were : 



|; That the Babbit Act of 1890 be repealed." 



This resolution has been acted upon, and it is proposed in this Bill that the Babbit Act of 1890 

 should be repealed. 



The next recommendation was " that the matter of dealing with the rabbits should be placed in the 

 hands of the Pastures and Stock Protection Boards until they are superseded by more representative 

 bodies." 



He 



