Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-10-01
PROFIT
BY THE
PEST
Australia Rabbits Are Now a
Source of Great Profit.

Australia says: BY the irony OF cir
cumstances, just at the time when
DIR. Danysz. the famous French bac-
teriologist, has arrived in Sydney
with his tubes of pasteurellas =
mysterious microbes which he thinks
will obliterate the rabbit pest In
Australia by the spread of a conta-
gious disease-the rabbit is becom-
ing a valuable commercial asset
One exporter estimates that already
II brings $10,0O0,000 year to the
commonwealth.
The industry, 1t is to be remem-
bered, is still in swaddling clothes
but Judging from the development OF
the last few years the ten millions
of today should quickly grow. There
are immense possibilities ahead.
But. of course. there is DR.. Danysz
to be reckoned with. 1t Is exceed
ingly doubtful, however, whether
he will be permitted to proceed to
any length with his experiments.
Apart from the existing fear that
he will be set loose disease which
may be dangerous to human beings
and to other forms of animal life,
there is a strong feeling that, with
the great and increasing demands
for the carcasses and skins of rab-
bits, the rodent will, In the ordinary
course of events cease to be a pest.
And, moreover, II is coming to be
recognized that not only will the In
dustry bring millions of pounds to
Australia annually, but that 1t will
AFFORD profitable employment to a
vast army of men. For this reason,
the labor parties, federal and state,
are bitterly opposed to DR.. Danysz
and his scheme.
Rabbit Trappers Form Union.
Already the pastoralists are COM
planning of scarcity of rural labor.
They are no longer able to obtain
the services of able bodied men for
10 shillings week and their
tucker" For rabbit trapping has
of n sudden become a remunerative
profession. and 1t Is characteristic OF
conditions here that within the last
few days a rabbit trappers' union
1.
export firms In sydney and Mel
bourne are sending hundreds OF
men into the country every week TO
districts where the local supply of
trappers is insufficient, and thus
there Is asteady absorption OF the
metropolitan unemployed. Likely ap-
plicants are provided with traps on
time payment. and the newcomers
are placed at first beside experienced
men, who teach them the routine.
At Narrabrl, Gunnedah, Tumut,
Dubbo and some other places good
trappers are earning, according to
one authority, five pounds a week.
Another authority puts It as III or
rs shlllings a day"
Men with young families TO assist
them do even better. In this con-
neetion the report of country In
spector OF state schools to the public
instruction department OF New South
Wales Is significant. AT the present
juncture," he says. Il Is a difficult
task to get children to do any home
lessons The high price of rabbit
skins induces parents to employ
their children for half the night In
trapping rabbits. Many families In
this district are earning as much as
from $50 TO s1O0 per week at the
business. In many of the towns
there is wood famine It being inn
possible to find carriers to waste
time drawing wood when they can
earn so much at trapping rabbits.
From this cause also the attendance
at country schools during the quar-
ter now ending VIII De greAtely re-
duced."
Solving Unemployed Problem,
A piece of further evidence Is sup
piled by Mr.. Sehey. the director of
labor In New South Wales. In his
last report TO the minister he quotes
the following from his various eoun-
try correspondents;
Coonamble-The on season, but
no such thing as unemployed. Usual
resorts OF loafers deserted. All gone
rabbiting. the money earned at
which Ia likely to increase the rates
OF wages demanded by roastEbouts.
etc. Spending capacity of the work
Ing class greater than for years past
Cowra--very good. No employ
ed All unskulod iabOr ahSorhst In