H.—2

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Mr. Beuce said a 1-J-in. mesh was too large. Some people thought even ljin. was insufficient, and advocated a 1-Jin. mesh. Mr. Goedon supported the amendment. In his colony it was believed the rabbits got through a 1-J-in. mesh, and he had understood that was the size used in New Zealand. Mr. Eitchie asked if any of the delegates had had any experience in regard to ribbon netting on the fences. Mr. Tabaet said that in Tasmania they found that 6in. in the ground and 3ft. out of the ground was sufficient to protect them against the rabbits. Landowners a few years ago fenced their holdings with paling-fences. This was a perfect barrier against the pest, but in time the portion that was underground decayed in some cases. This has been remedied by attaching a narrow ribbon of wire-netting to the bottom of the fence, and letting it into the ground. The effect has been good, and sufficient to stop rabbits. Mr. Beuce said that in South Australia they put a 6in. or Bin. sapling along the top and overlapping the fence, and put the wire round that, the bends in the netting acting as a cap. Mr. Coleman Phillips believed that in some places the rabbits had taken to climbing over the fences—for instance, in Wilcannia. He supposed that had been Mr. Lance's experience. In other places he had heard of the rabbits barking the trees up to 3ft. Mr. Eddy had said that his Government had fenced ninety miles of the railway-line, and that the rabbits came there to die in millions. He (Mr. Phillips) thought 3ft. too little. Mr. Eobeets said it was commonly understood that a rabbit would not jump, but it was a mistake. He could confidently affirm that he had seen a rabbit jump 2ft. high, It jumped like a dog. Mr. Eitchie said he had a yard for training ferrets to catch rabbits, and had seen a rabbit make a bound to the top of a post. Amendment agreed to. Subclause as amended agreed to. " (7.) That the system of compulsory trapping, with professional trappers and State bonuses, is radically bad." —Agreed to. ." (8.) That legislative measures should be taken compelling landowners or lessees in districts infested, by rabbits to join, subject to the above provisions, in payment of the cost of rabbit-proof-netting fences, or of the addition of such netting to existing fences."—-Agreed to. Proposed : " 48. That the Conference, taking into consideration the importance of the subjects that have come before them for discussion and decision, are of opinion that an Australasian Stock Conference should be held triennially at the chief city of one of the colonies, and they respectfully offer this recommendation to the several Governments." Amendment proposed: " That the words ' continue to 'be inserted after the words 'Australasian Stock Conference should.' " —Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Proposed: " 49. That the Conference desire to call the attention of stockowners to the fact that the cattle-owners in the United States of America hold an annual convention of delegates from all the States in the Union, to discuss matters of general interest to them as a. class, with very great benefit; and would suggest that a similar convention of delegates, chosen by the stockowners in the several colonies, be held annually in one of our chief cities, each colony to send, say, three delegates, as may be agreed upon." Mr. Beuce said this clause had been a dead-letter, and he did not know whether it was any good leaving it in. In America the stockowners met every year to discuss questions affecting them as a class. There, of course, they had railway and other rings to fight against. If the stockowners in these colonies could only be got together, he believed they would find many subjects to discuss of interest to them. Meetings of the kind had been held in connection with the labour question, and there were many other subjects of importance to the stockowners if they would only meet to discuss them; and he believed that, so far as the agriculturalists and pastoralists of his colony were concerned, they would eventually take them up; but it would be better if an Intercolonial Conference were held. The Chaieman said that in New Zealand they had recently had a Conference of delegates from Agricultural and Pastoral Associations for the discussion of questions affecting their interests. It was a very successful gathering, and they had passed some very important resolutions. Becommendations had been made to the Government, and the Government were proposing to take action upon them. They proposed to meet every third year. Of course it would be somewhat difficult for delegates from New Zealand to attend an annual Conference in Australia. Amendment proposed : " That all the words after the word ' of' in the first line be struck out, and the following words be inserted in lieu thereof: ' the Agricultural and Pastoral Associations of the several colonies to the desirability of Intercolonial Conferences being held periodically in one of the chief cities of each colony, to discuss matters of general interest to agriculturists and stockowners as a class, each colony to send, say, three delegates, as may be agreed upon.'"—Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Proposed : " 50. That a uniform code of regulations, embodying the resolutions passed by this Conference, be adopted by all the colonies, and that the framing of such regulations be placed in the hands of the Victorian Government." Amendment proposed : " That all the words after the word ' colonies 'be struck out." Mr. Beuce said that at the last Conference it was thought that the Victorian Government should have the framing of the regulations, but the proposals submitted did not meet with general approval, and had failed of effect up to the present time. Three of the colonies had agreed to a uniform code, and they had hoped that at this Conference all the colonies would be represented, and then they might agree to some uniform course to be pursued, and that, if any of the colonies did not agree to the same code exactly, the combined colonies would adhere to their regulations, and take care to enforce similarity with regard to the interchange of stock. Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. (See p. 52.) Proposed: "51. That a copy of the proceedings of this Conference be forwarded to the Government of Western Australia, and that they be asked to adopt and act upon the resolutions a-greed to."