MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2777, 28 August 1924, Page 3

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board was held at the Board’s office, Foxton, yesterday morning, and was presided over by Trustee B. G. Gower. There were also present Trustees Gloyn, W. E. Barber, R. Boswell, F. C Railces, Mr Flemming (stock inspector) and the Board’s inspector (Mr D. R. Ban-on) and the secretary (Mr R. Rangiheuea). Apologies for absence were received from Trustees Grammar and McKelvie. Correspondence-was rend and dealt with as follows:—

From the Department of Lands and Survey, forwarding estimate of cost of plan for Manawatu Rabbit Board district. —-Resolved, to defer consideration of an up-to-date plan pending further information. From E. E. Lawrence, offering to supply phosphorised pollard rabbit poison to the Board. —After some discussion it was decided on the motion of Trustee Barber, to obtain a sample quantity in 71b., 141 b. and 281 b. tins.

The question of sale and distribution of rabbit poison to settlers was discussed and it was decided to sell same for cash on delivery and to leave the question of arranging suitable depots for distribution in the hands of the. inspector, who will make investigation and report to the next meeting of the Board. The question of powdered and crystal strychnine and its uses was discussed.

The Inspector stated that he would be pleased to instruct settlers in the use and method of preparation of strychniui. He-further stated that a preparation of rabbit poison had been offered to the Board at 5/- per bottle, guaranteed sufficient to poison 3,000

rabbits. This preparation had been offered to the Government hut had been rejected. From the information he had ascertained that this preparation was highly satisfactory. The person preparing it was prepared to lay the poison at 1/0 per hour, settlers to find their own poison and provide carrots. FINANCE. The receipts for this month totalled £l4B 14/7 and the expenditure £BO 19/2. Accounts amounting to £B7 5/1L wore passed for payment. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Mr Barron, Board’s Inspector, reported as follows: — “I have been over q good portion of the Board’s district during the month of August, but. have, so far, done little in the way of inspection, my first object being to get into touch with each owner of land under the Board’s jurisdiction. I have, so far, visited close on 100 owners. My impression is that, notices sent, out dealing with the destruction of rabbits, have been disregarded in the most of cases which have come under my notice. At the present time although iu a great majority of cases good work .has been done with poisoned carrots, the rabbits are still very numerous in most, parts of the district visited by me. The worst infested country that I have visited is iii the vicinity of Taikorea, country adjoining the Oroua to near Factory Road, between the Sandon road and Kellow’s Line; the country on either side of Kellow’s Line, from Healey’s up to Taikorea Rd.; the country on either side of the main road from Sorensen’s Corner to Baiuesse, and the land on both the Taikorea and Glen Oroua Rds. “Another difficulty lam faced

with is the number of farms which .are either in the mortgagee’s hands or have been abandoned by tenants or owners, as the Case may be. As it is only by concerted' arid simultaneous action that rabbits cart be effectively dealt with, 1 would advise 11 a‘general poisoning with strychnine carrots, should be done simultaneously over the whole district from, the-20th to 30th of October, and would advise that all property holders be ciretdarised to this effect when sending out notices after 1 have visited all owners of land under the Board’s jurisdiction. This work must be followed up, wherever practicable by fumigation of burrows with bi-sulphide or, on country unsuitable for fumigation, the trapping of burrows and consequent tilling in of holes. “I would like to give a demonstration dealing with the use of fu migation- with bi-sulphide and have arranged with Mr iiaikes to Have thcP demonstration on his property and also to experiment on same. This method of dealing with rabbits, given suitable country, is without doubt, the most effective. would also . recommend sending out Board regulations, which 1 have prepared, and which are appended to this report.” When the adoption of the report was under discussion, the chairman said he would like to hear an expression of opinion on the question of trapping v. poisoning, in his opinion trapping was simply farm Lug rabbits. A member: We have the power to ■prohibit trapping. Ah- Raikes expressed the opinion that trapping should cease just previous to poisoning commencing. Trustee Boswell expressed the opinion that continuous and systematic trapping was quite as efficient as poisoning. He explained that this referred to the farmers’ own efforts and not to the work done by professional trappers. It was agreed that both methods could be carried on systematically. Trustee Barber said that the object of constituting the Board was to assist settlers in every possible

way to get rid of the rabbit pest, and not to persecute settlers. To this end the Board should do all in its power to assist settlers in the methods and use of poisons and to arrange depots where settlers could obtain poisons in different rarts of the district.

The chairman expressed the opinion that the furrows were ploughed too far apart in poisoning. The .poison should be put to the rabbit, and not the rabbit to the poison. The professional rabbi ter was naturally concerned in securing the best skins. He also stated that he thought it would he difficult to obtain carrots for poisoning purposes in October.

Inspector Barron said he would make enquiry re procuring supplies of carrots from the South Island.

Trustee R a ikes complimented the inspector upon his interesting and instructive report and for the information he had supplied to the settlers during his visitation. He felt sure that the Board was to he congratulated upon having secured the services of such an efficient, officer.

Other members endorsed the previous speaker’s remarks. The report was adopted. The inspector submitted regulations and it was decided to supply encii member with a copy prior to tlrn next meeting. FTIMIGA TION DEMONRTR ATIONi Tn re fumigation demonstration at Mr Raikes’ farm, members are to receive seven days’ notice of same afld the secretary was authorised to obtain hi-su'.lphide and fumigaior for same. MY Gloyn pointed out that the demonstration would show the effect of such treatment on sandy soil, ns it was considered that this method was only suitable in heavier grounds. Authorifv was given to instnl the telephone at the inspector’s residence.