MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3722, 26 November 1927, Page 3

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Ma- ■ nawatu Rabbit Board was held in the Board’s Office on Thursday, and was presided over by Tr. B. G. Gower. Also present were Trs. D. Fleming, R. Boswell, T. A. Grainmer, J. F. McKelvie, F. C. Raikes, J. Gloyn, W. E. Barber, and the secretary (Mr. Roore Rangiheuea). Mr. D. R. Barron (inspector), was also in attendance. Accounts amounting to £59/11/3, were passed for payment. It was decided to hold the next meeting on Thursday .December Bth, 1927. It was resolved to request the inspector to put down 1/28 pollard on the McKenzie’s island, and to notify Messrs Florance and Scott. Decided to urge the Manawatu County Council to include lupin in the schedule of noxious weeds on account of rabbit cover. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. During the past month I have been engaged in the general inspec- > tion of properties in the Board area. The wet weather experienced during the month has delayed work to a certain extent, and has also had an effect on the amount of work done in regard to rabbit destruction. An appreciable number of young rabbits is in evidence in certain parts of the district. This is mainly due to certain farmers neglecting to exercise the necessary care over their properties. These men have an idea that because their properties are almost clear there is no need to take any further trouble, with the result that with 1 only a few litters of young rabbits these same properties again become rabbit-infested. Or) several occasions I have stressed the need of care being taken to see that no breeding is allowed to take place, but in a number of cases no notice has been taken'of this advice. In a great majority of cases young rabbits are using the old grassy burrows, and great care should be taken in looking for these burrows, as otherwise they are easily missed. In all parts of the country this season of the year is really the most important time as far as keeping breeding down is concerned, and work done at present will save a lot of unnecessary expense and labour later on. With the use of granular cyanide, and at the small nominal cost of this material to farmers, through the help of the Board, there is no excuse whatever for' farmers on clear country to have any rabbits, young or full-grown, on their properties. Some farmers seem to think that rabbit destruction is the least important work on the farm, but they must learn to realise that it is just as important as any other work, and consequently must be carried out. At the beginning of the coming month, I will be sending out the usual statutory notices required under the Act, and I would Suggest that a circular be sent out at the same time further explaining the use of granular and also pointing out the necessity for constant work m the matter of rabbit destruction.—-A-dopted.

GRANULAR CYANIDE FOR DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS.

For a number of years farmers have been in search of a cheap anil effective method of dealing with rabbit-infested areas, once those areas have been brought more or less under some semblance of control, and this problem has been solved to a great extent by the experiments and work carried out by the Manawatu Rabbit Board, in the use of granular cyanide. A great amount of success was obtained with the use of bi-sulphide, but this proved rather expensive, owing to the initial cost of having to buy a machine in order to carry out the work. The simplicity with which granular cyanide is used is a great factor in its favour, and an additional advantage is that no machine for using it has to be purchased. Wherever this method of fumigation has been carried out in a careful and systematic manner, good results have obtained, and the com- 1 plete eradication- of rabbits on clear country should be quite within the means of any farmer, and more so in these districts where Rabbit Boards are helping the settler in the matter of providing suitable material. The Manawatu Rabbit Board pays half the cost of granular cyanide, thus enabling its ratepayers to purchase five pound tins from the Board at the small amount of 4/-, and when it is explained that one such tin is sufficient, for treating 150 “leads,” it will readily be admitted that this Board is doing good work to enable the farmers in its area to eradicate the rabbit pest from their properties.