Rarotonga's Pests

Rats, Flying-foxes and Prowling Pigs

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Dec. 7.

A FURTHER £5O has been set aside by the Cl Administration for the extermination of rats. At the price of two for Id., this sum should account for 24,000 rodents. Unfortunately, no more rat-traps are available, and any other method of catching the vermin is apparently not worth the reward, par ticularly as the price for rats always has been in the past Id. each.

The lack of shot-gun ammunition is the cause of a marked increase in flying foxes on Rarotonga. These night-raid ing bats do much damage to all fruit crops.

Also, as a result of lack of ammuni tion, the wandering pig is becoming a real menace, since native owners of pigs have no further fear of losing their animals by the action of angry planters.

The majority of Rarotongans keep their pigs tied with rope or bark by one leg. Such a system is pernicious in every respect—pig-owners should be compelled to make suitable pens. Plenty of stones are available to do the job and in this way the very real cruelty which now exists could be avoided.

Planters would be relieved of much unnecessary damage to their crops and the owners themselves would benefit considerably in the long run.

Such a by-law seems simple, necessary and progressive, but somehow it never comes to pass.