Some Rabbit Boards Not Acting On Opossums

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30469, 17 June 1964, Page 11

Some Rabbit Boards Not Acting On Opossums

Disappointment that more rabbit boards had not sought approval to undertake opossum destruction work was expressed by the Rabbit Destruction Council in its annual report. , 'There are several major areas of opossum infestation where the rabbit boards have felt' disinclined to take on this extension of their work,” ■ he report said. Other boards felt that by deferring the devaluation of opossums the Government had made a major variation in its earlier arrangement with the council and the associations when rabbit boards first undertook opossum destruction. They therefore felt justified in not seeking per-

mission to operate the scheme. The council was also disappointed that the opossum had not been devalued. It felt strongly that devaluation must be a basic feature of any successful destruction scheme, particularly if it was undertaken by rabbit boards. The failure of the Government to accept the council’s recommendations for complete coverage by. rabbit boards and the fact that some areas were not covered by the boards, had strengthened the representations .of those who opposed devaluation, the report said. It was hoped the Government would not delay . devaluing the pest for long. Claims were sometimes made that “a huge potential export market” existed for opossum skins. The report showed ■ figures that for the year ended June 30, 1963, £583,245 worth of skins was exported,, while in the six months ended December 31, 1963, skins valued at £308,162 were sent overseas. While it was not suggestedthan more than £500,000 was insignificant as an export receipt, it Was very important to relate this to the damage done by the pest and the cost incurred in controlling it, the report said. In the last year, 11 more rabbit boards had undertaken opossum destruction work, which brought the total of boards so authorised to 105.

“In the council’s opinion, the scheme for rabbit boards to undertake opossum destruction work can only be fully effective when the pest is devalued and when the coverage issue is resolved,” the report concluded.