MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3913, 2 March 1929, Page 2

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board was held in the secretary’s office on Thursday, presided over by Mr. B. G. Gower (chairman). Also present were: Trustees J. Gloyn, R. BosWell, W. E. Barber, J. F. McKelvie, A. Cook, Grammar, F. C. Raikcs and the secretary (Mr. R. Rangiheuea). Mr. D. R. Barron (Inspector) was also in attendance. CORRESPONDENCE was read ■ and dealt with as follows: —

From the Manawatu County Vouncil, forwarding a copy of alterations to the rate roll. —Received. From the secretary of the North Island Rabbit Board’s. Association, notifying that the annual conference will be held at Feilding on May 22nd this year.—The Chairman and Trustee F. C. Raikes were re-elected delegates to conference. It was decided on the motion of the Chairiman and Trustee W. E. Barber to make and levy a rate of :‘d per acre on all the rateable properties in the Manawatu Rabbit District for the ensuing year. It was decided to forward the following remit to the annual conference : “That Rabbit Board inspectors be empowered to take legal proceedings against property owners failing to eradicate rabbits without, joint inspection.” .. Accounts amounting to £9l 8s lid were passed for payment. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The Inspector’s report was read and adopted as follows: During the past month I have been engaged in general inspection work and also in following up with personal inspection those properties, the owners of' which had been notified, on which further work was necessary. In several cases the work, hut, as pointed out on others still another request has been necessary to have the required woilk put in hand. A number of fawners give the excuse that they have not had time to carry out the work, but, as has pointed out on many previous occasions, the eradication of the rabbit pest on farming lands is just as important a work as any. In several cases it has been pointed out to land-owners that the delay in fumigating as soon as the first signs of rabbits are in evidence only makes the work more arduous and expensive at it must be carried out in the end. At present requests for work are not being carried out as promptly as they should be, although all such requests are made purely in the interests of the owners themselves.

The district as a whole is in very fair order at the present time, and if constant supervision is exercised by owners themselves, the keeping down of the pest should present no difficulties whatever. It appears though that the less work that is required to be done the less the owner feels like carrying it out. On the great majority of properties it should be quite a simple and inexpensive 'matter to keep the pest down to less than it is at the present moment. I intend at the beginning of the coming month to advise all ownei's, where such is necessary, to car 17 out a pollard poisoning and I think it would be advisable to try and make arrangements to have such a poisoning carried out in the islands in the Rangitikei river-bed. The stocks of the poison suggested by me at last meeting have run out and as far as I can ascertain it is not now obtainable in New Zealand.