MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3030, 1 May 1926, Page 3

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING,

■The usual monthly meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Boad was held in the Secretary’s office on Thursday. Present: Trustees B. G. Gowei’ (chairman), YY!. E. Barber, F. C. Raikes, Boswell, Gloyn, and the secretary (Mr. R. Rangiheuea). Mr. D. R. Barron, Board’s inspector, was also in attendance. Apologies for absence were received from Trustees McKelvie, and Flemming. Accounts amounting to £54 19s 2d were passed for payment. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The inspector’s report was read as follows: — During the past month I have been engaged in the general inspection of properties in the Board area, and following up with personal inspection of properties of farmers who have, up to the end of last month, not completed their poisoning. YVlith the exception of one or two isolated cases, poisoning has been completed, but in a number of instances, it has been much too protracted, and if tho winter poisoning is not carried out at the definite period stated, and the work carried out much more expeditiously, stricter measures will have to be taken with any farmers so offending. With a few exceptions, the condition of the district, as regards rabbits, is fair at present. The fine summer weather, however, which has been experienced during the last few weeks, has been very conducive to breeding, and so far this season, breeding has practically never stopped, and the majority of does being caught at the present time are in young. Owing to the dry nature of_the low lands, “nesting” has taken place even on land which is generally wet and swampy, and if heavy rains were experienced at present, they would be responsible for the destruction of a large number of young rabbits.

The poisoning of the main highway from Himatangi to below Bainesse has not yet been completed owing to unforeseen circumstances arising and another man having to be employed on the work. During the coming month, I will send out the Statutory Notices as required under the Act, and I would recommend that a General Poisoning be begun in the first week of June. This poisoning began on the Ist May last year, but owing to the lateness of the .present season, I would advise that it be held a month later.

During the coming month I shall be engaged in the general inspection of properties. Trustee Barber in discussing the best method of rabbit eradication said that trappers were inclined to rush their work. They did not get all the rabbits. It was a question if it was in the best interests of the Board to allow trapping at all. If so be advocated the defining of certain areas to certain trappers and the setting aside of certain periods during which poison would be laid and no trapping allowed. Trustees Grammar and Boswell supported Trustee Barber’s contention.

The Inspector said the trouble with traps was that the natural enemy of rabbits was also caught.

Trustee Grammar said that a man in the Carnarvon district caught eight rabbits and 23 stoats with a few traps around his cabbage patch. Trapping should be prohibited after a poisoning. The Inspector said trappers were inclined to wander all over tho country. Trustee Boswell: They destroy rabbits, though. Trustee Barber: If we allocate them certain areas they will do good work. Trustee Gloyn: A trapper took 4000 rabbits off 600 acres on the first trapping in the Carnarvon district and 1000 the second time.

Trustee Boswell: You wouldn’t get that result with poison. Trustee Grammar said that he did not like traps because it killed tho natural enemy.

The Inspector said that on a property in the Board’s district 4000 rabbits had been killed with poison on the first lay, 2000 on the second and 700 on the third. The Chairman: Only 2700 were killed in that instance.

Trustee Boswell: Traps are all right at the proper time. Trustee Grammar: Not in fine weather though. He said that stoats began to “run” about December.

The Inspector: Systematic trapping in burrows can do good work, but strolling trappers are no good. Trustee Gloyn advocated the filling in of burrows also. It helped in the eradication of the pest. Trustee Grammar advocated a strychnine poisoning in June a nd the prohibiting of traps immediate-

ly. Trustee Boswell voiced the opinion that if the stoats were not killed also a' Board would soon be needed to eradicate them. The place was getting overrun jwith stoate. The Chairman considered the hawks were doing good work in rabbit eradication also. Trustee Grammar then moved that trapping be stopped on the 15th May and that a carrot poisoning be ordered for early in June, except Where systematic fumigating, trapping and filling in of burrows had been carried out. This was carried and the discussion terminated.