FIGHTING A PEST.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1924, Page 4

FIGHTING A PEST.

THE STATE’S EFFORTS. AVEI.EIXGTOX, November 22. At the request, of the Alinister for Agrietulture an officer of the Department of Agriculture lias compiled an account of the activities of the department in the fight to kill the rabbit pest. The account is written under lour headings. Under this heading it is stated that the department is always ready to consider suggestions for improving the law, and that a good deal has been done in this direction in the last few years. The department has given much attention to finding more effective* poisons, and of improving the methods os using those now in. use, hut nothing very definite has resulted in either direction.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE ACT. Inspectors keep up an active campaign, working with the farmers as fains it is possible, hut using coercive measures where neglect is shown ; prosecution is not, however, undertaken until several warnings have been given. It is a question whether better ’results could not ho obtained if fewer warnings were given. Unfortunately, landowners do not always carry out systematic poisoning, sit that the best results are not obtained. The inspectors also keep in touch with the rabbit hoards, with a view to getting them to effectively carry out their duties. Inspectors and rabbit hoards should not he looked upon as being antagonistic to the larincr, hut, unfortunately the commercial spirit, particularly in the South, has ercpl in, and both inspectors and hoards are, in many cases looked upon in anything hut a friendly light, and the settlor carries out the work of eradication under strict coercion, and often does no more than will save him from prosecution. I! AMBIT HOARDS AND SI.AI I’ETAN-

KOUS ACTION. This is considered absolutely necessary. and so the department favours the formation of hoards areas oi 2000 acres, which can now he constituted rabbit hoard districts. Previous to 1!)1S, the area was not less than 200,OPO acres. There are now 21 ratepayers rabbit hoards in existence—l 7 being in the North Island, and I in Otago and Southland. The North Island hoards have done excellent work. In all eases where the desire to control the pest, is honest, and mit half-heart-ed, there have been.excellent results. These hoards have been subsidised by the Government to the extent ol L‘7ooo. The commercial element is not acting to the same extent in the North as in the South Island, with I lie result iliat, owing to the high value ol the skins, present methods ol control in the South are largely result less in regard to a marked reduction in the pest. Until South Island landowners co-operate more wlmle-hearledly, rabbits will remain a serious menace there. In the North a very different state of affairs obtains. SALE OF POISONS.

For some years, phosphorised pollard and oats have been sold to property owners at a reasonable price—for several years aclually below the cost of manufacture. The manufacture of poisoned pollard and oats at the Government depots has steadily increased, especially during recent years. For last year the quantity was 22.") tons. In addition, large quantities of enrhett hisulnliide (lor fumigating) and strychnine have been imported by the Government, and sold to Ihe landowners at the lowest possible cost. The phosphorised pollard is sold at 2d per Mi, in quantities of I Kill's ami over, anil at slightly higher rates for lesser quantities, railage being paid lo the nearest station. Phosphorus can he obtained at .‘!s (id per lb, carbon bisulphide at L'.'l per o-galloii drum, and strychnine at Is lid per ounce —prices that are considerable lower than I hose ruling hol'nic I lie department tool, acllon. ('arbon bisulphide is an CM'rlloiq Ininiganl lor warrens, and is in great favour in the North Island, where excellent results have been obtained. In recent years, strychnine has come largely into use, as rabbits are more easily found when destroyed with ii than with phosphorus, it is the favourite poison for use by prolessiollal rabbitei's when winter skins are sought. The one drawback to its use is that unpnisoned baits have to he laid for two or three days before putting down those treated with strychnine, so that often the whole of a properly is not worked, the tendency being to poison only the worst-infected parts and leave those where the rabbits are not numerous undealL with, the reason being that it lines not pay the rahbiters to work the unpayable ground. 'I bus, ihe pest is liable to become as numerous as before bv the time the InlloWin.r I,reeding season comes to an end.