MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3824, 28 July 1928, Page 3

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING,

The monthly meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board was held at the secretary’s office on Thursday afternoon, presided over by Mr. B. G. Gower. Also present were: Trustees R. Boswell, T. A. Grammar, J. F. McKelvie, J. Gloyn, and the secretary (R. Rangiheuea). Mr. D. R. Barron (inspector) was also in attendance. Apologies for absence were from Trs. W. E. Barber, F. C. Raikes and D. Fleming. CORRESPONDENCE.

Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: — From Department of Agriculture, acknowledging receipt of notification re Tr. Fleming’s resignation and advising that a successor would be appointed at the earliest possible moment. —Received. From same, forwarding copy of the Rabbit Nuisance Amendment Bill for the Board’s information. — Received.

From Manawatu County Council, forwarding list of property transfers and signifying its willingness to forward same after each monthly meeting.—Received. Accounts amounting to £59 16s 3d, were passed for payment. INSPECTOR’S REPORT.

The following is the inspector’s report:— During the past month I have been engaged in following up with personal inspection the 'circulars sent out to all ratepayers, requesting a general fumigation and poisoning-. On the majority of pro-

perties inspected, either fumigation ' or poisoning where needed has been carried out. The result of the poisonings has been satisfactory in most cases, although, as was to be expected, no big tallies of rabbits have been in evidence. Where cyanide fumigation has been carried out, it has been entirely successful, and good results have been obtained in all cases. The weather has been most suitable for both methods of rabbit eradication and the result of the work carried out should be very evident during the-coining season. On country where poisoning has been carried out, cyanide fumigation should now follow wherever possible, and if constant attention is paid to all working burrows from . now on, no increase of the pest will take place, and the small amount of work now required to keep the pest down to a minimum will not entail the least hardship on any individual

farmer. The condition of the district as regards rabbits at the present time is better than it has ever been, and landowners should have no trouble whatever now in not only keeping the rabbits down to their present state, but also in improving the already good conditions obtaining. As previously pointed out, a number of farmers are satisfied after they have done a certain amount of work, but it is still necessary for them to comply with the full requirements of the Rabbit Nuisance Act namely, to destroy all rabbits within the shortest time possible. I would therefore advise all landowners for their own benefit to have these requirements carried out. During the coming month I shall be engaged in general inspection work of the Board. —Received.