MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3632, 30 April 1927, Page 2

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board was held in the Board’s . office yesterday, and was presided over by Trustee B. G. Gower. Also present: Trs. IV. E. Barber, .1. F. McKelvie, It. Boswell, F. C. Raikes, J. Glovn, and the Secretary (Mr Roore ltangiheuea). Mr D. It. Barron (inspector) was also in attendance. Apologies for absence were received from Trs. D. Fleming and T. A. Grammar. CORRESPONDENCE.

From C. Watkins, re excluding his property from the Manawatu Rabbit District. —Resolved to inform Mr. Watkins that the Board, after due consideration, decided to take no action in the matter as there were other properties in th<j area at present clean but had rabbits when the area was formed. (The Board’s policy is to take in rather than to exclude). Accounts amounting to £6B 6s 2d were passed for payment on the motion of Tr. Raikes seconded by Tr. Glovn.

Delegates’ Reportßesolved to thank Trs. Rakes and Gower for their comprehensive report on the deliberation of the recent Rabbit Board’s Association. Inspector’s Report: —Resolved to adopt the Inspector’s report and the following rconunendations approved: —“Landowners to carry out simultaneous cyanide fumigation and. strychnine carrot poisoning on the Kith day of June, 1927.” INSPECTOR'S REPORT. . The inspector reported as follows: —During the past month I have completed personal inspection of those properties on which the poisoning advised by circular had not previously been completed. Wherever this poisoning was required it has practically all been carried out and in the majority of cases successful results have been obtained. On some properties poioning has not proved so effective, but the strychnine poisoning in the winter will have the desired effect iii these cases. On the sth of Aprjl I sent out notices to all landowners directing their attention to ' the* benefits to be derived from the use of granular cyanide, at the same time notifying them that the Board was selling granular at half price to farmers. So far the response to this appeal has been fairly satisfactory, but I would like to see more advantage taken of the Board’s efforts to decrease the cost of rabbit destruction in the district. Whereever granular has been used it has given good results, and I would strongly impress upon farmers, whose land is at all free from “cover,” and even on some properties where “cover” does exist, the necessity for cyanide fumigation. The district is ! in very fair condition at the present time, and can at least be kept in this condition, if farmers will devote all possible time to the eradication of the pest. From now on is the most convenient time for farmers to carry out rabbit destruction without the added cost of additional labour, and any efforts put forth now will save a great amount of work when the busy season commences in the spring. During the coming month I will send out the usual statutory notices required under the Act, and at the same time I would advise that a circular be sent out requesting all landowners to carry out a siinultaneous cyanide fumigation and strvehnined carrot poisoning on a date'to be tixed. preperably the beginning of June.—Adopted.