Dogs And Pigs.

Create Havoc In Fiji.

ON the island of Viti Levu, on which Suva is situated, and on the islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni, next in size and importance, two entirely op posite problems exist regarding wild pigs and wild dogs. On Viti Levu wild dogs create a nuisance around the towns and considerable havoc in the country among poultry and livestock, and it was stated in the Legislative Council that one estate owner poisoned no less than 1,580 of them.

The prevalence of dogs is due very largely to the fact that Indians, of whom there are 85,000 in the Colony, gener ally keep a dog or two. Where in a European community unwanted pups would be eliminated, the Indians per mit them to remain. This is due to religious principles held by many In dians, which forbid them to kill animals, and the result is a steady increase in stray dogs, many of which eventually go wild.

The demand from Viti Levu for a higher dog tax immediately raised op position from Vanua Levu and Taveuni, where the plantation owners are men aced by wild pigs, and where dogs are valuable in keeping the pigs down.

Mr. Percy McConnell, of Mount Ver non Estate, Taveuni, said that on his property thousands and thousands of nuts are eaten each year by wild pigs which, he stated, go from tree to tree, husk the nuts, and crunch, up the shells.

Young coconut trees and vegetable patches are rooted up as soon as they are planted. The breeding of goats had to be given up on account of the fact that the kids were eaten as fast as they were born. He also stated that on the adjoining estate 500 pigs had been killed within the space of 12 months, while on his own estate approximately 1,500 pigs had been killed within the past five years.

The dogs they use are imported and are fed on rice and biscuits. They claimed that the imposition of higher taxes would handicap them in their ef forts to keep down the pigs. It has been suggested to the Government that a solution of the problem would be a high dog tax on Viti Levu, where there are wild dogs but few wild pigs, and a much lower one on the islands where pigs are a menace and where there are few wild dogs. It is anticipated that mis proposal will be adopted.—N.Z.

“Herald.”