MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3004, 27 February 1926, Page 3

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

At the meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board on Thursday last correspondence was read and dealt with as follows:—

Prom E. W. Thompson re poisoning. circulars and rate demands. — Received. Prom the Railway Department re eradication of gorse, lupin and other noxious growths.—Received. It was resolved that the chairman and .Trustee Raikes be delegates to the Rabbit Board’s conference and that they suggest that in future the secretary of the conference. invite, all rabbit inspectors to be present at conferences. It was also resolved to-forward the following remit to the conference: —“That the financial year be ended,,on the 31st day of March, in lieu of the 31st day of December.” RATE TO BE LEVIED. It was unanimously decided that the Board, under the provisions of the Rating Act, make and levy a rate of one penny per acre on all rateable property in the Manawatu Rabbit district, such rate to be for a period of one year from the first day of January 1020, to the 31st day of Decembei', 1926. Major R. Reed was extended an invitation to be present at the next meeting of the Board. THE RATES. The following shows the rates struck last year by the Board: — Sandon Riding: Struck, £7 2s 9d, Paid: £5 11s 6d; Rongotea Riding, £2l 5s 2d, £l3 12s sd; Carnarvon Riding: £239 17s 9d, £94 16s lid; Kawa Kawa Riding: £lls 8s sd, £B7 16s 8d; Awahou Riding: £149 6s 3d, £ll2 16s lOd; Natives: £ls Is 3d, £2 18s lOd; additional: £4 5s Od, £4 5s Od. The total rates struck was £551 16s 7d and of the £321 18s 2d was paid, leaving £229 18s 5d outstanding. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. During the first part of the last month I have been engaged in the general inspection of properties, while during the latter part of the month I have followed up with personal inspection the circular, re a general poisoning sent out by me on the first day of February. This general poisoning which was to have started on the 15th inst., has not been so far generally carried out, and in a number of properties already inspected, the work has not been begun. I would point out to farmers that the success of this simultaneous poisoning rests with themselves, and the effect of combined action is lost when poisoning is not carried out as near as possible to the date specified. All farmers were notified of this poisoning a fortnight before it was to take place and no excuse can be made for their delay in the matter, and unless more attention-is paid to the Board’s instructions, I shall be compelled to use extreme measures to ensure of their being carried out. At present the regulation as regards the illegal use of traps during certain periods, is applicable only to farmers, and I would suggest that this regulation be altered in order that trappers themselves may be liable to a prosecution for an infringement of the Board’s regulations. On several places where trappers have been found to be at work the farmers, on whose properties they have been carrying out their work, have had no knowledge of their presence.

I would again bring forward the suggestion to farmers, that where conditions so warrant it, they should combine in securing the services of a permanent man for rabbit destruction on their properties, and in this manner they cannot only keep their own properties clean, but also see that their neighbours do likewise. If this method is taken up, it will be to the advantage of the man employed, as well as to the farmer himself. Each farmer must realise that it is imperative that money be spent on rabbit destruction in order that the best results may be obtained. During the month a demonstration in the use of cyanide for the destruction of rabbits was carried out on a wire-netted portion of Mr. Foster’s property at Taikorea, with very satisfactory results, out of 115 holes treated, over a week ago, none lias been opened. The area fumigated was very much infested and in order to gratify the incredulous, ojght live rabbits, besides those in the area, were placed in the burrows.

The condition of the country at present as regards rabbits is very fair, altogether a certain amount of the area which should be clean is in a worse condition than that of the “cover” country, in which the control of the pest is much more different.

During the coming month I will be engaged in following up with personal inspection the poisoning advised in the recent circular. — Adopted.