RABBIT BOARD FOR HOROWHENUA COUNTY

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40014, 24 October 1929, Page 3

RABBIT BOARD FOR HOROWHENUA COUNTY

MERCER- WtETII MANAWATU - SUGGESTED.

There is a movement afoot for the formation of a Rabbit Board to operate in the Horowhenua district. Rabbits hniyo been on the increase in recent years in the coastal country lying to the south of the Manawatu River, which forms a. Immdary of the Manawatu Rabbit Board’s district; and this increase has been more especially noticeable: on the lands south of the Tlokio Stream.

A meeting of settlers on the coast country between the Manawatu River and Otaki Borough is called for Wednesday next, at 2 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Levin, and representatives of the Agricultural Department will be v in attendance. The object is the formation of a Board, and it will he for that body to decide the extent of its district, but it is believed that it would operate successfully over an area of 35,000 acres. What would appear to be a business-like proposition is that its territory should he joined to that of the Mann watu Board, so as to minimise overhead charges. One reason for the relatively fast ine|rcnse of the rabbit pest is considered to be the destruction wrought twelve or more months ago among ferrets and weasels —

n;i I ura 1 enemies of the rabbit —by the wave of distemper that swept through the district and took a heavy toll of cattle-dogs and sheepdogs. It is known that both the ferrets and the weasels ate particular! v .susceptible to this highly contagious disease. Irrespective of the causes of the rabbit ascendancy, however, the present move by a number of landholders is undoubtedly a wise one, and by attending in good force farmers will be protecting their own interests.