RABBIT CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 67, 29 April 1946, Page 6

RABBIT CONTROL

PONGAKAWA BOARD MEETS

DEPUTATION URGES CONCENTRATED EFFORT

The monthly meeting of the Pongakawa Rabbit Board took place at Paengaroa recently, Messrs. N. Blaymires (Chairman), D. J. Dennehy, M. B. McKenzie, A. H. Jamieson, R. F. Black and the Secretary being present. An apology was received from Mr T. Ball.

A deputation consisting of Messrs. Nettlingham, Milsom and Wickham was received .by the Board, and a petition signed by twenty ratepayers presented. The petition alleged that although soon after the inception of the Board, the rabbit pest had been greatly reduced, for the last two years further decline had not been noticeable. The petition suggested that the rates be increased, and that a concentrated effort be made to eliminate the pest. The deputation confirmed the statement 1 made in the petition expressing the opinion that the rabbits had not decreased during the last two years, that the petitioners would like the Board to take the necessary action and confirming the offer of the ratepayers to pay a higher rate. They also stated that the twenty petitioners requested the Board to take steps to extend' its boundaries to take over the coast area as the present road boundary was unsatisfactory. They offered to assist in canvassing the ratepayers in the coast area for the purpose of obtaining signatures and stated that Mr J. Reid would give every assistance in this direction.

As regards the seafront area the chairman pointed out that it was not the Board’s duty to canvass any area with a view to obtaining signatures to a petition for the purpose of extending the Board’s district but that the petition would require to be handled by ratepayers who were living in that area and who voluntarily would be prepared to act. It was resolved at the request of the deputation that the Board take the necessary steps to have a petition drafted and a map prepared and that these documents when available be forwarded to Mr J. Reid.

The chairman thanked the deputation for attending the meeting and stated that their representations would receive full consideration. He was .in complete agreement with the statement made to the meeting by the deputation. v A general discussion took place when the deputation was asked various l questions and it was pointed out that the 20 petitioners would hold an area of approximately 5000 acres and that the rates from this area would produce only £4O for the year, which limited the Scope of the work in the district even if these rates were sub-

sidised pound for pound by the Government.

The deputation then retired from the meeting. . The secretary reported that 92 per, cent, of the rates had been collected, namely £1490 out of a total levy of £1630, and that of the outstanding rates, one ratepayer owed £B6 19s 3d.

It was left to the secretary and Inspector to prepare the estimate of expenditure on Crown and Native land for the year ended March 1947. Inspector’s Report

The Inspector, Mr C. H. Davis, reported that since the last meeting of the Board, work had been carried out on a number of private properties together with Crown lands in Ruawahai, Edgecumbe, Murupara, Tarawera and Valley Road districts, and Native lands in Ruawahia, Edgecumbe, Awakaponga, Coast, Murupara and Lakes area. The report continued as follows: We have poisoned 12,240 acres and fumigated 8600 acres using 8121bs. Phosphorised Pollard, 691bs Cyanogas and 1 gallon Carbon Bi-Sulphide. Results on the whole have been good, rabbits taking the poison freely especially on the Manawahe and Ruawahia country. The whole of the Crown and Native lands in the Ruawahia and Upper Tarawera area have now been poisoned and here the results have been excellent. This area was formerly badly infested, but at present there are very few rabbits to be found. The Lands and Sui-vey Block at Edgecumbe and Native lands along the Tarawera River are also very clean. The State Forest lands on the Pikawai Block have not been worked since these lands were taken over by the Forest Department. I have been in touch with Mr Auston and he suggests that we do this work ourselves.

Our Foreman, Mr Bennsson, has been offered the Inspector’s job with the East Coast Rabbit Board and will be leaving our employ within the next week or two.

As our stock of Phosphorous is very low we wi|l require to procure some in the near future. We have 30 tins of Cyanogas “A” Dust on hand and as this is often hard to procure it may be advisable to order further stock.