MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40015, 26 October 1929, Page 2

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD

FORMATION OF NEAT RABBIT BOARD. At Thursday’s meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board, the secretary reported that a movement was on foot to form a rabbit board to supervise rabbit destruction methods over a strip of land extending from the Manawatu River to Otaki, a distance of twenty miles along the coast and taking in the sandy, rabbity country for three miles inland comprising 40,000 acu*s. During the week Mr. Findlay, from the Government Agricult a Wish the Board, tural Department had visited Foxton for the purpose of ascertaining what steps were necessary to establish the 'Board. After some discussion during which the Board signified its willingness to co-operate in any way, it was decided that the Board’s inspector attend the public meeting to be held in Levin at an early date to discuss the matter and to give whatever assistance he could in the matter of the formation of a hoard.

EXTENDING THE BOARD’S BOUNDARIES.

Trustee AV. E. Barber raised the important question of extending the Board’s boundaries to include rabbit infested area bordering on the Manawatu Rabbit Board’s district. He was of opinion that the Board should go into the question immediately as the rabbit menanee from outside was .becoming a serious problem. Only a day or so ago he had seen four young rabbits on fhe road between theSFoxton Cemetery and the main FoxtonShannon road on the Board’s boundary while a short while ago lie had given some cyanide to a farmer outside the Board’s area in this locality to try and keep down the pest.

The '.chairman also stated that he had seen two rabbits along the southern boundary while his cat had brought a young rabbit home the other evening from just outside the area.

Trusteee McKelvie said .jhe same thing obtained in the northern part of the district. It was hard for the man on the boundary to have to keep his property clean while his neighbour just outside the area allowed the pest to breed and cross over on to his property. After a fumigation or poisoning had been successfully carried out.

The inspector also referred to the difficulties property owners on the boundaries were faced with. Trustee Barber said the Board’s late was not irksome and it would be in the interests of the whole district to further extend the Board’s boundaries.

The secretary . read legislation governing the question of elusion of boundaries which disclosed the fact that it would be possible for the Board to carry out Trustee Barber's suggestion either by a petition of property owners concerned or by public notice to the effect that such stops were to be taken and the hearing of objections to such a proposal wheii the Act, could he amended by Order-in-Council.

Trustee Barber then moved that the Board take the necessary steps to increase its area tp include ail neighbouring .rabbit infested properties, (approximately from Bulls bridge to Marotiri) and in doing so said that such steps were essential in the interests of the Board. Unless the Board was prepared to give close attention to its business the rabbits would, in a very sh'ort time, be a serious menace again. Trustee McKelvie suggested that the inspector should submit a report on the matter to next meeting.

Trustee Baiber: Pass the resolution first and then go ahead with the inspection of the properties concerned.

Trustee Boswell seconded the motion which was carried unanimously, it also being decided to request the inspector to submit a report on the matter to next meeting.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT,

The financial statement w'as read and adopted as folloAvs: — Receipts(Balance 1/1/29, £6O 18/8; rates: current, £212 0/7; arrears, £7.1/7; penalties, 11/11; Government- subsidy, £203 12/6; poisons, £SB 0/6; miscellaneous, including £IOO in Post Office Savings Bank, £IOO 3/11; a total of £642 9/8.

The expenditure totalled £567 13/1, and was made up as follows :

Salaries, £394 10/.-; printing, stationery, advertising, £l9 0/8; office expenses, £l2 0/7; poisons, £lO6 7/5; ’phone charges, £l3 10/-; miscellaneous, £22 4/5; showing a credit balance- of £74 16/7. Details in connection with the purchase and retailing of poisons were also submitted at the request of Trustee F. C. Raikes at last meeting.