MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3863, 27 October 1928, Page 3

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Mar.awatu Rabbit Board was held in the Board’s office on Thursday, and was presided over by Tr. B. G. Gower (chairman). Also present: Trs. W,. E. [Barber, J. F. McKelvie, R. Boswell, T. A. Grammar, J. Glovn, F. C. Raikes, A. Cook and the secretary (Mr. R. Rangiheuea). The inspector (Mr. D. R. Barron) was also in attendance. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: — From Manawatu County Council, enclosing the monthly alterations to Rate Roll. —Received. - From Department of Internal Affairs, advising that the Board’s request to have the protection on hares removed has not been granted, but that if any person irT the area whose property was menaced by hares would apply for permission to destroy, such application would receive immediate consideration. —Resolved to ask the Department to give the Board’s request to have the protection on hares removed, further consideration as similar requests have been granted in other districts and to point out that several properties and orchards in the area are seriously menaced by hares. It was further decided to enlist the Manawatu County Council’s cooperation and endorsement in the matter of having the protection on hares removed. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £6B 14s 7d, were passed for payment. RESEARCH IN PASTURE. It was resolved to write the Department of Agriculture, stating that the Board strongly approves of the suggested permanent research work in pasture improvement in the district. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The in’spector (Mr. D. R. Barron) reported as follows: — “During the past month I have been on general inspection work throughout the Board area. The frequent rains during the month have put the country in good order for the carrying out of cyanide fumigation, and wherever this has been completed good results have obtained. Strychnine poisoning with carrots was carried out on one or two properties on which cover existed and was quite successful considering the late season of the year. The district as a whole is in very fair order at present, although in quite a number of instances farmers whose properties were almost free from rabbits during the latter part of the winter are not paying the same attention to their land and are allowing breeding to take place. As I have so often pointed out, it requires the breeding of only a few does to cause an enormous amount of damage, and a great amount of work and expense will be saved if precautionary measures are taken not only now, but at all times. On a large number of properties now it should be necessary only to run over the land every ten days and fumigate any burrow which shows signs of working. Close inspection is needed as at this time of the year the younger rabbits are working or living in some of the old grassy burrows, and unless this close inspection is made such burrows are likely to be missed. I would therefore advise farmers to realise the importance of this work, and although this is the busy season of the year, still it must be realised that the keeping down of rabbits is just as important an undertaking as any other work on the farm, and every landowner must pay the strictest attention to his property at all times. During the coming month I shall be engaged in general inspection work.” The report was adopted.