METHODS OF RABBIT INSPECTION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 150, 21 March 1939, Page 5

METHODS OF RABBIT INSPECTION

“Nothing But Humbug From Department Dominion Special Service. MASTERTON, March 20. "I think that’s just humbug; I feel quite sure we are getting nothing hue humbug from the department,” said Mr. J. Andrew at. a meeting of the M airarapa provincial executive of the Mariners Union today after he had read a reply from the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Lee Martin, concerning a request for the appointment of an assistant rabbit inspector for the Tinui district. It was stated in the Minister's letter that the department was considering the readjustment of the districts in the Wairarapa and other parts of the North Island, and an assurance wae given that the claims of the Tinui district to adequate inspectorial supervision were not being overlooked. In the meantime arrangements had been made for the assistant inspector in Masterton to give special attention to the Tinui district. Mr. Andrew referred to previous assurances by the department and said that three men were required to do the work in the Wairarapa. At one time there were six. There were n million acres to deal with and a man with a push bicycle and a horse was provided. The methods of the department were 20 years out of date. A man should have a car, a horse, and a float to do the work. At Carterton there were 600.000 acres to look after, and the man who had been there 18 mouths and got to know the people and the land was now shifted to Dannevirke. As soon as the rabbit hoard was formed in Tinui, the inspector was taken away, said Mr. Andrew. The department, had lost a golden opportunity of getting rid of the rabbit post, because in the dry weather the rabbits would eat. up the poison.

“I don’t believe the people in Wellington have any intention of doing what they promised. They are vague in every way, and we should protest about it,” he said. Not only rabbits but noxious weeds required attention. It: was decided that a deputation from the executive should wait on the department.