Move To Control Local Rabbit Menace

Chronicle (Levin), 19 June 1948, Page 4

Move To Control Local Rabbit Menace

f ^ — * Concerned at the increasing rabbit nuisance in the liearny coastal area, Some 46 farmers in the area concerned met recentiy and unammously agreed on the formation of a rabbit board. The meet.ng was sponsored by the Levin branch of Federated Farmers, and was preslaed over by Mr. C. E. C. Webb. Mr. Webb opened the meeting by i stressing the nee*d for a very strict control over . rabbits m the sand country, and then introduced Mr. Hubbard, of the Department oi Agriculture, Palmerston North." After a talk by Mr. Hubbard and a long discussion on the proposal, ' it was "decided that a board be formed. The area in the meantime was defined as that boundedj by the • Manawatu River in tne ; north, the Ohau. River in the south1 and in the east by a line commencing at the • Ohau River, opposite Jarrett's Road,. along Jarretf's Road to Lake Papaitonga, from 1 thence along Arawhatu Road to j Horowhenua Lake, then to Kawiu j Road, Te Whanga Road, crossmgl the Heatherlea-Foxton Road at the j main drain and continuing along this drain to the Manawatu River. i The method of rating was then discussed, it being moved by Mr. 1 E. M. Ryder that it be on an acre- j age basis. This was seconded by Mr. G. T. Arcus and carriea. A committee was then set up to go into the matter of circuiating members in the district concerned, an'd to obtain the necessary percentage of votes for forming the board. This committee consists of Messrs. E. M. Ryder (chairman) , T. Hannan, A. R. Macfarlane, D. vV. McLennan, A .M. Scott and S. B. Mexted. ' On the motion of Mr. N. W. Ryder, seconded by Mr. G. H. VicKers, Mr. J. E. Fullarton was elected provisional secretary. Prior to the discussion, Mr. Hubbard said that his department viewed with 'concern the increase in rabbits in the area and it wouid be only too happy to assist farmers in the formation of a board, or in arranging to incorporate the area within another board. Continuing, Mr. Hubbard said that legislation had now been passed making it compulsory, where considered necessary, to form boards or otherwise deal with tne rabbit menace. In regard to rating, this could' be done either by acreage, per head of stock or on capita'l value. The acreage systern was the one mostly used by boaras j and- appeared to be the most satis- | f actory. The Government wouid jsubsidise £1 for £1 of rates coi•lected. . The present rate in the Manawatu area, where the board was pursuing an inspectionai was lfd an acre. Tnat | board hgd been in existence for 25 (years and the rabbits there were well under control. Legislation now stated that all new boards had to adopt a "ki'ller" pollcy, and this meant a slightly higher rate due to the necessity of employing rabbiting gangs„. . . . ■ , Mr. Hubbard said that . he had examincd the area concerned and had estimated the acreage with a view to finding the most economical area. From the Manawatu River. to tlie Ohau River, taking the railway as an eastern boundary, wouid give a total of 46,000 acres. By extending this area to the Otaki River it wouid be over 60,000 acres. From experience it has been found that an -area from 60-100,000 acres was the most economical to control, and on that score he wouia advise including the area to the Otaki River. For the Department of Agriculture in Wellington, Mr. Sim, amplifying .Mr. Hubbard's remarks, saia that in regard to the farmers in : the area from the Ohau River to the Otaki River he was quite certain they wouid be-willing to come ln with the board if it was formed. i Various questions were then put ' to the speakers regarding the 'proposal. Replying to a question, Mr. Hubbard said that there was provision in the 1947 amendment entitling an inspector on three days' notice to enter a person's property and destroy rabbits at the expense ;of the farmer. The question of .Crown properties was also di'scuss!ed, Mr. Hubbard stating that a 'grant w uld be received from the Government for work on Crown land. In regard to Maori land, the same i rates applied as to any other land. Where the property was supervised by the Native Department the (board could collect rates from that i department.