MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3695, 24 September 1927, Page 3

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING,

The monthly meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board was held in the Board’s office on Thursday, and was presided over by Tr. B. G. Gower (chairman). Also present were Trs. W. E. Barber. D. Fleming, R. Boswell, J. F. McKelvie, F. IC. Raikes, J. Gloyn and the secretary (Mr. Roore Rangiheuea). Mr. D. R. Barron (rabbit inspector) was also in attendance. An apology for absence was received from Tr. T. A. Grammer.

A motion of sympathy was passed to the chairman in the loss of his father.

Accounts' amounting to £B4 12s were passed for payment.

INSPECTOR’S REPORT.

During the past month I have been engaged in general inspection of properties in the Board area. A fair amount of work has been done during the month, fumigation by means of granular cyanide being the main work carried out. In all instances where this has taken place results have been very sat-| isfactory, and the carrying out of this method of rabbit destruction is going a long way towards ridding the clear country of the pest, provided a constant watch is kept on all properties on which it has been carried out. Very little breeding has been in- evidence- so far this season, but even an odd travelling rabbit can do a lot of harm, if farmers neglect the w T ork for any length of time. A certain number of farmers have been inspected, where, after the completion of fumigation, this constant watch has not been kept, with the result that further time and expense have been entailed. The present time is an excellent one for carrying out fumigation work as the ground is damp and the feed on the majority of properties is not very far advanced, all burrows can be traced, and the work carried out more expeditiously. The Board area at the present time is in very fair order. I have bad to send out two “warning notices” during the past month to landowners who had' not carried out sufficient work, after having had their attention previously drawn to the matter. On the 10th September, I sent out a circular letter to forty-five ratepayers in the district whose properties had a large amount of “cover” oft them, advising them to commence a pollard poisoning on the 21st inst., and during the coming month I shall be engaged in inspecting these properties, and also those on which fumigation should be taking place.