MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3542, 25 September 1926, Page 3

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board was held in the secretary’s office on Thursday, presided over by Mr W. E. Barber. Also present were Trustees McKelvie, Raikes, Boswell, Fleming, Gloyn and the secretary (Mr R. Rangiheuea).; Mr D. R. Barron (Inspector) was also in attendanle. Apologies for absence were received ■from Trustees B. G. Gower and Grammar. CORRESPONDENCE was read and dealt with os follows: From Mr. B. G. Gower, acknowledging the Board’s letter of sympathy. —Received. From A. 11. Rogers, asking for a few hundred rabbits to be liberated at. Tangimoana.—Received. GENERAL. It was decided to instruct the Inspector to furnish Trustee Fleming with the names of all property owners on the sandy country adjacent to the southern boundary of the Manawatu Rabbit district. Accounts amounting to £4B 7/11 were passed for poyment. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The Inspector reported as follows : During the past month I have been engaged in the general inspection of properties in the Board’s area, more especially of those properties to which reference was made in my last report. Owing to a great amount of unseasonable weather during the past month, the work of rabbit destruction has not been carried out to as great an extent as might have been. On the Ist September I sent out a general circular to all owners in the Board’s area, advising them to carry out a poisoning on the “cover” country, and to have all burrows on the “clear” country filled in and fumigated or trapped until clean. Up to the present sufficient notice has not been taken of this circular, but now that the weather has become more settled, the work must'be proceeded with without any further delay. On a number of properties on which trapping at buirows has taken place, the greatei percentage of rabbits killed have been does in young, and it is necessary to again point out that one doe caught at the present time is as good as seven caught later on. Work at the present time must be carried out with the utmost despatch, and as pointed out in the circular, many owners of properties have a false idea as to the condition of their land in regard to rabbits. Another group system of. work has been taken up in the district and good work is being done. The number of rabbits in the Board’s district at present is very fair, and if farmers realise thenresponsibility, this condition of affairs should gradually improve and it rests with them to keep the pest down to the irriducible minimum. During the coming month I shall be engaged in following up with personal inspection, the circulars sent out last month. —Adopted.