RABBIT CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 12, 31 March 1947, Page 5

RABBIT CONTROL

PONGAKAWA BOARD MEETING CONFERENCE IN WHAKATANE Mr J. N. Blaymires presided at the March meeting of the Pongakawa Rabbit Board. Present Messrs. N. B. McKenzie, C. 11. Davis, R. F. Black and the secretary. An apology was received from Mr A. FI. Jamieson. The chairman reported that a conference convened by the Internal Affairs Department, had been held at Whakatane and was attended by representatives of the Internal Affairs Department, Agriculture Department, Acclimatisation Society, the East Coast Rabbit Board and members of the Pongakawa Rabbit Board. Messrs. Black, Davis, McKenzie and the chairman, Mr Blaymires, had represented the Board. The object of the meeting was to clarify various misunderstandings which had arisen, and to obtain the cooperation of the Rabbit Boards regarding the liberation of pheasants and the Department of Internal Affairs had asked that facilities be placed at their disposal so that they would know where and when the Board was laying phosphorised pollard, so that they could choose the time and place for the liberation of pheasants. The chairman stated that the conference had proved constructive and all parties were quite satisfied. The secretary reported that the Department had paid the grant direct into the Board’s bank account of £37 10s 2d. This grant being paid in lieu of rates which would have amounted to £39 9s 7d, but although the payment had been received six months after the due date, the Department had claimed that 5 per cent, discount for prompt payment. The secretary’s letter to the Department asking them to pay the balance of £1 19s 5d was approved.

A complaint was received from Mrs Gibbons stating that she had refrained from paying her rates as she considered that she was unduly taxed as about one-fourth of her property was treated for rabbits and the remaining area is in bush. She also stated that the rabbiter had not done anyoyork on her property for over 18 months. '""

The secretary reported that he had referred this letter to the Inspector, Mr Davis. Mr Davis reported in writing on this complaint and stated verbally that he had interviewed Mrs Gibbons whose main complaint was that she was paying too much in rates. He mentioned that it was not possible to poison the property unless the livestock was removed and the paddocks made available to the Board. He had advised Mrs Gibbons that the rabbiters would be on the job in March, but the property was not at all badly infested. The secretary was directed to reply to Mrs Gibbons.

Re-Billings Block

The secretary stated that Mr Wright of the Lands and Survey Department had contacted him by phone stating that the rabbits on Billings Block were on the increase and enquiring what action the Board would take to clear these. Mr Davis reported that the whole property had been fumigated before the foreman had been transferred to the Maniatutu Road, but as the Crown grant for the financial year ended March, 1947, had been fully expended, there . were no funds

available at the moment and further work on the block would have to be deferred until the beginning of April 1947. The block was difficult to work owing to the fact that it was surrounded by scrub which provided cover for the rabbits. Mr Davis stated that he had conferred with the Farm Manage!', Mr Newton, who had promised to move the livestock and make the paddocks available to the Board and this had been part of the difficulty in the past. The secretary was directed to advise Mr Wright that the block would receive attention in April and to ask for co-operation regarding removal of the livestock from the paddocks at the time the men are on the job.