548 LEGISLATION 



convicted of destroying or catching ferrets, weasels or such other 

 animals as may from time to time be declared to be the natural 

 enemies of the rabbit," rendered himself liable to a penalty not 

 exceeding ten pounds or fourteen days' imprisonment. 



I do not know that these sections were ever enforced to any extent, 

 till recently (1921). In the rabbit-infested districts the enemies of the 

 rabbit were protected, because the evil was ever present and the 

 menace serious. In the outside districts to which ferrets, stoats and 

 weasels quickly spread, these animals were destroyed to a considerable 

 extent, and no one said anything about it. 



By this same Act while rating powers within proclaimed districts 

 were reduced to one farthing per acre, inspectors were authorised to 

 enter on all unoccupied crown or native lands, and to destroy rabbits 

 thereon. 



In spite of all the legislation and regulations passed, the rabbit 

 nuisance continued to get more severe, so in 1882 the previous Acts 

 were repealed, and increased powers were given in a new Act to cope 

 with the pest. In the case of an owner who would not pay for the 

 cost of destruction of the rabbits, the Government could take his land 

 and sell it. At the same time permission was given to private indi- 

 viduals to keep rabbits in cages or suitable enclosures, this being to 

 provide material for biological classes in schools and university col- 

 leges. In 1885 a small Amendment Act was passed, and in the fol- 

 lowing year a fuller amending Act. In -this the liberating of live 

 rabbits was absolutely prohibited, and the keeping of them in captivity 

 was prohibited to all except teachers of biology. The maximum penalty 

 for any breaches of the Act was further increased to one hundred 

 pounds. In addition, power was given to the Board to erect fences 

 to check the spread of the pest, and under this provision many 

 hundreds of miles of rabbit-proof fences were erected in Canterbury 

 and other districts to arrest the onward march of the invading 

 "bunny." In 1890 a further Rabbit Nuisance Act was passed; and 

 an Amending Act in the following year. In 1898 "The Rabbit- 

 proof Wire-netting Act," containing no fewer than 35 sections, was 

 enacted, and this dealt with one phase of the question, as under it 

 fencing districts were formed, Boards of Trustees set up, and rating 

 powers were granted. While all the preceding legislation referred to 

 areas which were rabbit-infested, this one enabled districts which 

 were threatened to keep out the pest. In 1901 an Amendment Act 

 to the Rabbit Nuisance Act was passed, and in 1902 a Consolidating 

 Act of 116 sections dealt with the whole subject, repealing all past 

 legislation, and re-enacting it in full detail. This is now the law of 

 the whole important question, except that in 1910 a small Amendment 



