, 1890-08-09
The MOngOOse Plague.

81 IL OtIlN uAhuC LuOb Ia 4AOAISOOoC IiEo
now become little better than Il plague i'll
this island. The COMMISSIONER are the
Hon'ble DR.. Mosse, g. b., Chief of the
Island Medical Service, who is TO act as
Chairman, the Hon'ble Robert Craig, MEM
Der OF Council for the district of Clarendon,
Mr.. William Fawcett, Director Of Public
Gardens and Plantations, and DR., j. w.
Paxton, who is Chief Medical Officer of
the Lunatic Asylum, but is appointed on
the Commission because he is Chairman OF
the Board of Governors OF the JanIlica [ :
~stitute. Mr.. Michael c.. Solomon is named
by tire Governor to act as Secretary to the
Commission, "tO perform the various SER
vices described III the 5th section Of the
Law" Thereason for appointing the Com
mission and the scope of the inquiry to be
made are set forth i'll preamble to the pro
UlamatiOm in which the Governor makes
known his purpose in this all-iInpOrtant
subject. h reason is that representation
has been made that ~"serious injury is done
TO poultry, game and other useful creatures
by the mongoOse y and the scope OF tho
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., as is represented, the
M0ngOOSe is destructive of poultry, game
and other useful creatures, and whether it
is expedient that measures be taken to re-
duce their numbes, and if so, what mea-
SureS will most readily and thoroughly
NANNO thAc ia DOHOs commissioner -
are to make such enquiry, take evid. nee
and report to the Governor Gas we'll tho
evidence taken AS aforesaid as the cOnclu.
sions they may arrive at, and the RECON-.
mendatiOnS they may desire to make touch
ing the premises, together with a statement
leading to such conclusions and
datiOns."
Notwithstanding the MongOose has found
defenders and there are pc pie VIII" stand
up for the preservation OF these animals as
being, not a plague but rather Il blessing
to the country, there will be many beside
those interested in the rearing Of poultry
and those who desire the preservation of
game, who will be glad that the inquiry is
to be made. The subject has long been
under discussion in the press i'll recognition
OF grievance long and pretty generally
complained of, but it was not until during
the last session of the Legislative Council
that any attempt at authorized action in
the matter was taken. Tie member for
Clarendon, in protection of a Ian sc number
of his constituents, brought it f0t ward and
moved Il resolution. A general discussion
took place, after which the resolution was
withdrawn, on the understanding that due
and timely inquiry should he made before
any action be taken. It will be remembers.
ell that on that occasion a full history OF
SN~ VI bHS Nv
furnished by the Member for Portland and
st. Thomas, who seemed anxious to vindi,
cate himself from the reprOaches that had
been cast upon him in the matter. He Ell.
deavOured to establish as II fact that it was
not he, but Sir John Grant. who introduce.
ed the "soecalled' plague. That all he h9d
tlOue was to call attention to tf.e efficacy
which the ani0lal had proved in tho de-
StructIOn OF rats in other countries where.
up4n the Governor took action. We men.
tlO1the circumstance for what it was worth,
for tho purpose in view should not DO so
much to upbraid anyone as responsible for
The presence of the MOngOOSe, as to find
out whether it has not, as alleged, become
II source OF mischief, and whether, it pos
Sible, thought not TO be extirpated. Who
ever is responsible for its introduction,
whether a pri, ate individual or {, late Gov
ernOr, he ought to be credited with a good
m~0tive-the intention was to serve y useful
purpose, not TO do harm to anyone. The
purpose vas to provide a means for effectu-
ally destroying. ratS-the description of
rats especially which had for along period
been the common enemy of the cane plant
ar, depriving him ola large proportion of
his yearly crop, and entailing a heavy
charge in estates management fGn merely
represslve measures. 1t is not to he denied
that the Cane Piece Rat was q sore evil in
the cane growing districts of the island,
and we believe it is equally umdeniable
that the MongOOSee has been, of the various