MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3839, 1 September 1928, Page 3

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board was held in the secretary’s office on Thursday, presided over by Trustee B. G. Gower (chairman). Also present were Trustees Gloyn, J. F. MeKelvie, F. C. Raikes, T. Grammar, R. Boswell and the secretary (Mr. R. Rangiheuea). Mr. D. R. Barron (Inspector), was also in attendance. An apology for absence was received from Trustee W. E. Barber. The Department of Agriculture wrote notifying that Mr. A. Cook has been appointed Government representative on the Board vice Mr. Fleming.—'Received. The Treasury Department wrote enclosing the sum of £9 10s Od, fines imposed on ratepayers for failing to destroy rabbits in the Board’s area. —Received. The Inspector reported that as the result of an amendment in the Act, Boards now received the benefit of any such fines. Accounts amounting to £SO Os 3d were jiassed for payment. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The Inspector reported as follows : During the past month I have been engaged in general inspection work in the Board area. Properties which had not been poisoned or fumigated in accordance with the recent circular advice during the previous month have been inspected, and in the great majority of cases the necessary ivork has been carried out. Weather conditions are now more suitable than they have been for some time, as the recent rains have put the land in good order for fumigating. It is to be hoped that further rains will be experienced, as we have not yet had sufficient to drive the rabbits ■ out of the lower levels in ' a number of portions of the district. In several areas rabbits are living in gorse hedges and patches of gorse, and in such cases it is impossible to carry out fumigation unless the cover is removed, and so long as the amount of cover there is exists in the district, so long will there be rabbits. This point cannot be too strongly impressed upon owners of property in the Board area, and landowners should do all in their power to remove the'gorse menace existing at present. The Board area is in very fair order at present in regard to rabbits and if farmers realise their responsibilities and keep down breeding from now on especially, and during the coming summer months, no great damage from the pest will take place, but if breeding is allowed to take place the area will be no further forward towards being clear from rabbits. At the present time hares are very plentiful in the district and in my opinion it is only a matter of time when they will be a greater menace to farmers than the rabbits have been, and I would recommend the Board to take the necessary steps to have the protection of hares in this district removed. During the month a landowner was fined £5 and costs for failing to take the necessary steps to destroy rabbits. I shall be engaged in general inspection work of the Board area during the eoming month: REPORT DISCUSSED. Trustee Raikes thought the best method of cleaning a patch of cover on a propertywould be to engage a man with a pack of dogs. Trustee Gloyn said the gorse would have to be burnt off before the rabbits or burrows could be located. The Inspector said it might be advisable to have the gorse patch cleared under the Noxious Weeds Act. Trustee MeKelvie said he employed a man with a couple of small dogs in cover country with good results. Trustee Raikes said that in the lupin-covered river beds in the Cheltenham district, tracts were cut. in the lupin where necessary and all the rabbits cleaned out with dogs. The chairman said that a dry spring followed by a heavy rain was one of the best eradicators of rabbits. It was decided to apply to the Minister of Internal Affairs to have the protection on hares removed in the Manawatu Rabbit district. The report was adopted. RABBIT FARMING. Mr. Gloyn asked if a person could farm Angora and Chinchilla rabbits in the Board’s area. The Inspector said that such a practice was contrary to the Act and a person so doing would be liable to a fine. Mf. MeKelvie: We don’t want to see any more rabbits. On the motion of the chairman it was decided to enter an emphatic protest against the Government in allowing the importation into New Zealand of Angora and Chinchilla rabbits.