‘Understandable Apathy’ About Rabbits

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31121, 26 July 1966, Page 16

‘Understandable Apathy’ About Rabbits

Although New Zealand young farmers were apathetic about the rabbit problem, this was understandable, Mr D. G. McFarlane told the Canterbury council of the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs in Christchurch yesterday. Mr McFarlane said the present generation of farmers could not fully appreciate the rabbit problem, because they had not been personally affected by it. Co-operation from all sectors of the community must be gained If the Rabbit Destruction Council’s policy was to succeed. However, many people were not convinced that it was practical, Mr McFarlane said.

In some parts of New Zealand, it was costing up to £6O to kill each rabbit.

“However, young farmers fully understand the gravity of the noxious weeds problem, which is, in many ways, similar,” he said. The council was discussing a report from the recent conference of South Island rabbit boards at Timaru.

The council supported the setting-up of more agricultural institutes such as the Telford Farm Training Institute at Balclutha, but before any re-

commendation Is made It will wait to see how the Telford institute develops. The council also favoured the establishment of week-end residential leadership courses. It was felt that the present schemes for leadership training were too limited. If more young farmers could attend district leadership courses, rather than national ones, they would be better equipped for club executive work, it was said.

Lack of support from Westland young farmers’ clubs caused the council some concern. Two of the clubs there have recently gone into recess. "There is not much enthusiasm on the Coast,” Mr G. I Barclay said. “Farmers have ■ completely different outlooks ” The chairman (Mr R. D. Dodson) was empowered to investigate ways in whidfc the movement there can be revived.

A sub-committee was elected to examine the possibility of having short-term agricultural instruction courses introduced in the council’s area. At present, the only other similar courses are being run by the OtagoSoutbland council.

By a majority of one vote, the council agreed to ask that action be taken to reintroduce the old stock judging cards at show competitions. The council felt that the new system was too confusing.