RABBIT CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 20, 2 November 1945, Page 5

RABBIT CONTROL

PONGAKAWA BOARD MEETS

SURVEY OF! WORK

The monthly meeting oi' the Pongakawa Rabbit Board was held at Paengaroa recently, when mutters concerning rabbit control in the Board's district were, discussed.

Advice was received from the Agricultural Department that a grant of £2:58 lias been made to the Board for fumigation subject to the programme of work being approv-

ed.. It was resolved to notify the department of the programme as outlined by the Inspector.

Mr Black stated that he had received several complaints from rate-

payers in hi& district that the rabbits were more noticeable ancl this ailso applied to bis own property. He suggested that the Board allow ratepayers to use Cyanogas Pumps to clean up odd bu-rows on their property during the breeding season.

Mr Davis supported the. suggestion that ratepayers, could effective, ly deal with their own burrows provided they did do the work, but pointed out that Cyanogas Pumps were useless unless they were cleaned regularly, and he therefore recommended that granulated cyanogas be purchased, anu that this be made available to any settlers who required it. He stated that a tablespoon. ol" granulated cyanogas placed well inside the burrdw would be quite effective in lulling the rabbits provided the burrows were effectively sealed.

With regard to the old truck, belonging to the Board, the Secretary reported that this had been sold for £95 cash.

Dealing with insurance, the Foard discussed the question of Passenger Risk and it was resolved thaw employees be instructed that no passengers are to be lifted while their vehicle is being used on the Boards work or travelling to and from work. On the matter of Government

""rants the unexpended balance at September 28, 1915, of £293 Native Land, and £168 Crown Land, plus £238 Special Grant, making a total of approximately £700 was. discussed and the Inspector assured the Board that the amount would be

fully expended before the end the financial year.

The Secretary reported that the estimated expenditure for 1943/46 totalled £3872 excluding £300 for the truck and that the actual expenditure excluding the truck was £2061 for the half year. Provision has been made for a Special (-riant from the Agricultural Department of £150 whereas the actual grant was £238. He considered, therefore that the actual expenditure wss conforming in total with the estimates although some of Uie individual items were being exceeded. Inspector's Report The Inspector's report, intimated that since the last Board meting, numerous privately owned areas, together Avith Crown and Native lands had been worked. 7450 acres had been poisoned, and 11,700 acres fumigated, using 4601bs of Phosphorised Pollard and 551bs of Cyanogas. Unsettled and showery 'weather had interfered with work to a certain extent. With the exception of the Rerewhakaitu area, most of the work had been fumigation on grasslands. A hut had been erected at Manawahc, and the men sliiited

Dealing with the Special Grant of £238. the Inspector suggested that the Board do better than to follow the procedure of past years; i.e. to spend the money on fumigation of Crown, Native and Private Grass Lands, using, Dogs, Pumps and Cyanogas. It might also be. advisable to procure some casual labour where available for this job.

"It will be necessary," the report concluded, "to shift some men to Crown and Native lands in the very near future to 'Complete our pro_ gramme on these lands j but with the breeding of rabbits in full swing i? and the position as it is ? I have- not been able to spare men for work on the -scrub lands up till the present. I feel that it is good policy to concentrate on grass lands that are being farmed, leaving the scrub lands until the summer months when bet. iter results are obtained for the 'money spent,"