RABBIT AND SHEEP DOGS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2128, 23 October 1896, Page 5

RABBIT AND SHEEP DOGS.

(TO THE EDITOR L. W. M.) Dear Sir,—Now that the County Council elections are almost upon us 1 should like, through the medium of your valuable paper, to call attention to the iniquitous tax upon the rabbiter's dog, whilst a sh*ep dog gets off very cheaply. A rabbiter makes his living by his dogs, the same as a shepherd does, the only difference being that a rabbiter needs to keep a pack of dogs, whilst a shepherd does not, and I fail to see where the cause for the great difference in taxation comes in. The theory advauced by some is that rabbit dogs are great worriers. Well, Sir, I dont know about that, but I do know this, that all the worrying tha\ has been done in this district has been done by sheep dogs with one single exception, and that was when a young collie dog bit through the collar of a rabbit dog which was chained up, and both then went worrying. I think, Sir, that if this were made a question for all County Council honors, we shouid be able to get our rabbit dogs taxed at the same figure as sheep dogs, namely 2s 6d instead of 10s a head, and I think theu we should be more able to cope with the pest which, like the poor, is always with us. I am, etc, Settler. Glenorchy, 22nd October.