MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2890, 30 May 1925, Page 3

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board was held in the Secretary's office on Thursday morning presided over by the chairman, Mr B. G. Gower. Also present were Trustees W. E. Barber, Grammar, E. C. Raikes, Gloyn, Flemming, Boswell, Mclvelvie and the secretary (Mr lloore Rangiheuea). Mr. D. R. Barron, Board Inspector was also present. CORRESPONDENCE was read and dealt with as follows :

From the Rangiotu Dairy Farmers’ Union stating that at a meeting of the Union on the 24th inst., the following resolution was passed: “The Chairman of the Manawatu Rabbit Board be asked the following questions:—l. Is the Inspector a subordinate of the Board and the Board responsible for all his work; 2. The Board allow .no summons to be served on a ratepayer without 14 days notice being given by a personal interview; 3. If requested by the Union will you attend a meeting at Rangiotu some evening to be arranged. I am instructed respectfully to ask your answer by return mail in order to place the same before our next meeting to be held at an early date.” Decided to reply that, the Inspector is a subordinate of the Board; that in future the Inspector interview defaulters before summons are issued and in the event of absentees a letter be sent. From Mr. Saywell pointing out that his property is not in the Rabbit Board area. —Left in the hands of the secretary. From the N.Z. Missionary School, Longburn, asking for settle of an account for carrots. It was pointed out by the Inspector that the carrots had not arrived in good condition. After discussion it was decided to pay the account. Accounts amounting to £(l3 9s (Id, were passed for payment. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. “During the past month I have been engaged in the general inspection of properties. At the beginning of the month I sent out Statuory notices and a circular to all land owners in the Board’s area south of the Taikorea road requesting a strychnine carrot poisoning to be commenced at the earliest moment. On the great majority of properties visited by me since the sending out of notices, poisoning has cither been carried out or satisfactory arrangements made to have the work put in hand. Successful poisonings have resulted in all cases and the tallies recorded go to show that there is a marked improvement in regard to the number of rabbits in the district as compared with this time last year and goes to prove that the prvious pollard poisoning had a marked effect on the rabbits. The recent bad wather hash eld poisoning up for several days, but now that the weather is settled farmers would be wise to take full advantage of it. I would recommend that the Board have certain road lines in the district poisoned with strychnined cairots provided that this can be carried out with safety. Fumigation is being carried out in several parts of the district and where owners have carefully followed out instructions good results have been obtained. On a property in the Taikorea district, a. long sandy ridge which has been undermined by burrows and in which every other form of rabbit destruction has been ineffective, bi-sulphide has been the only means of entirely eradicating the rabbits. At the beginning of the coming month I will send out statuory notices together with a general poisoning circular to all land owners north of the taikorea load. It will be necessary for the Board to say whether trapping shall be restricted in this area also, and I would strongly recommend the board to enforce the regulations and keep the winter destruction of rabbits along poisoning lines.” Adopted.