Not Right Time For Single Council

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30980, 9 February 1966, Page 14

Not Right Time For Single Council

(N.Z. Press Association) BLENHEIM, Feb. 8. The Rabbit Destruction Council’s views on separate administration for noxious animals control and for noxious weeds control had been made clear to the inquiry following the Agricultural Development Council’s recommendation for joint administration, and those views had not changed since, Mr J. J. Shine, chairman of the council, said today. After a period, say of five years, of operating as single units, there could be talk about single control, he said. Asked if rabbit destruction over the country was making progress, Mr Shine said there were only two “spots” in New Zealand where it could be said that rabbits were still at a dangerously high level. He would not name the areas, but both were in the South Island. The council was continuing

to make a concentrated effort on those trouble spots. For the rest of New Zealand, however, there was now no spectacular progress and the position was being held. The difficulty in the areas of low infestation was the danger of an attitude of tolerance and apathy. The R.D.C. was continually stirring landowners and the public along. Mr Shine said that during the past year an additional amount of work had fallen on the council rising from the introduction of county rabbit boards, bringing about complete coverage of New Zealand. Normally there would be about three to five new boards a year, but last year 46 new boards had been established. These county boards I would be guided by the R.D.C. | but responsible to the Rabbit I Destruction Act. : Mr Shine said the council supported the trend to amalI gamation of boards, although ■there was no ideal size for a i board area.