RABBIT BOARD STRIKES RATE

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 15 June 1933, Page 6

RABBIT BOARD STRIKES RATE

PATEA-WAITOTAR A POSITION

APPOINTMENT OF INSPECTORS

No other alternative but to strike a rate and employ an inspector has boon left the Patea-Waitotara Rabbit Board, and at a meeting yesterday the following motion, moved by the chairman (Mr. G. V. Pearce) and seconded by Mr. T. Lupton, was carried unanimously: “That the board take the necessary steps to strike a rate to destroy rabbits, by the appointment ol inspectors or by other means necessary.”

As no stock-owners list was prepared, the board anticipating that there would be no rate, it will not be until after N-oveniner next that a rate can be struck. To provide itself with funds in the meantime the board lias recourse to the Public- Revenues Act, which permits it to lean on the Government for finance against a subsidy which will be available when rates are collected.

Ways and means of carrying on in the meantime were discussed, and the matter oi borrowing against the subsidy was left in the- hands of the chairman and secretary.

In answer to a. request from the secretary, who had been instructed by the chairman, the Rangitoto Rabbit Board advised that it employed an inspector at £3OO per annum. He made poison pollard that worked out at 11s per 281 b tin. It was his duty to inspect properties and to report on those inspected each month. He instructed farmers liow to -poison and to fumigate burrows. Some farmers did the work themselves under the inspector’s directions. Others let the inspector employ labour and charge the cost to the farm.

IMr. Pearce said the sooner the board had an inspector the better. He

could make the farmers destroy rabbits, or put men oil to do it and charge the cost. “If we employ an inspector at £3OO a year, and require, say. another £IOO for other expenses, we will need only £400,” he said “A very small rate would be required to get that, and perhaps it would* be better to charge a double rate now and strike no rate next year.” Mr. Cleland : Times are too bad. It would be better to have two small rates than one large one. Mr. Darbyshire (clerk): The average rate now is only 255. It was decided to engage Mr. Darbyshire as a clerk for a further period of three months, by which time the board would be in a position to know what work will be involved, and a fresh agreement will be made with him, presumably at an increased rate' of pay, and he will be asked to undertake tho preparation of the stockowners list and the striking of the necessary rate.

On the motion of-Mr. Lupton, seconded by Mr. Watkins, it was decided to add Mr. W. Matthews, Waverley, to the board to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. J. Hodges.