RABBIT BOARDS AND RABBITS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21417, 8 March 1935, Page 17

RABBIT BOARDS AND RABBITS

TO "I ILK KDITOX or THE PiIKSS. Sir,— "Budget" has evidentJy not been very long a ratepayer in the Hurunui Rabbit Board's district, or he would know the true facts of the case. It is very easy to sit down and criticise and enumerate the shortcomings of the other fellow; but it is not a bad idea to step back and have a look at yourself occasionally, and incidentally do a little rabbit destruction as a side line, instead of waiting to be told to do so. "Budget" talks about infested and protected areas under the old boards. Let me tell him that for years before the present board held office there were just as many rabbits on one side of the fence as the other, and. further, miles of it were not rabbitproof. In short, the fencing scheme was given a good trial and recognised as a failure. The sitting board, profiting by this experience, adopted the present policy, and the success of past years has fully justified their action. The present season has been a favourable one for breeding, and "Budget" should know that the pest is always much in evidence just before the autumn campaign is begun, and that he will get far better results by making a vigorous onslaught after a respite than pottering among them all the time. As regards the abolition of the board, the ratepayers have the matter in their own hands. Let them destroy all the rabbits and the board will cease to exist. In the meantime let us congratulate ourselves that we have men of such undoubted business ability and integrity willing to give their services, and if "Budget" and his friends are so enthusiastic übout the efficiency of the fences there is nothing to prevent them keeping them nn. —Yours, etc., „ 1 SATISFIED. TVTfirnh fi. 1935.