MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40029, 28 November 1929, Page 2

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Mannwatu Rabbit Board was held in the secretary’s office this afternoon, presided over by Mr. B. G. Gower (chairman). Also present were Trustees F. C. Raikes, W. E. Barber, T. Grammar, iR. Boswell, J. Gloyn, Fleming 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 Council enclosing list of alterations to the rate roll. —Received. From the Department of Agriculture, advising that Mr. D. Fleming will temporarily fill the -vacancy caused by the death of the late Mr. Co oik. —Received.

From Messrs Ilaggett and Elliott, enclosing notice of sale.' —Received.

I'TXANCIAL STATEMENT.

The financial statement was read and adopted as follows: — Receipts: Balance 1/1/29, £6O 18/8; rates, £226 6/2; penalties, 11/11; Government subsidy, £203 12/6; poisons, £6l 17/6; miscellaneous, 3/11; P. 0.5.8., £IOO. a tolal of £653 10/8.

Expenditure: Salaries, £438 6/8; printing, advertising and stationery, £2l 11/5; office expenses, £l2 3/2; poisons, £lO6 7/5; ’phone charges, £l3 10/-; miscellaneous, £22 4/5; balance 26/11/29, £39 7/7; a total of £653 TO/8. The poison account showed balances as follows: — Strychnine: Credit balance of 9/-, with four one ounce tins on band. Pollard: Credit of £6 6/- with seven 28’s on hand. Cyanogas: Credit of £73 9/- with four 25’s of dust and 17 fives of cyanogas on hand. Bi-Sulphidc: Credit of £2B 6/2. Accounts amounting to £63 11/8 were passed for payment, INSPECTOR’S REPORT.

The (Inspector reported as follows :

During the past month I have been engaged in the general inspection of properties in the Board area, and also in following up with personal inspection those properties on which further work had been requested. In all cases it wae found that either the work had been completed or was in progress. The majority of the properties inspected were found to be in very fair order, while on other's it was found that insufficient attention was being paid to the work of rabbit eradication. Owing to the very dry weather experienced since September the season has been an ideal one from a rabbit breeding point of viewi, and the result is that rabbits are showing' up in places where there have been no traces for some time past. The result of the poisonings on the Rangitikei ri-

ver-bed from the Bulls bridge down have not been satisfactory and at present, young rabbits are too numerous on this portion of the Board area. v I do not wish to encourage trapping hut as the last two poisonings have not been satisfactory, and as the pest must he thinned out during the coming summer, months, I would recommend that the services of an experienced trapper be obtained and systematic trapping carried out on the itjver-bed areas. The whole 'trouble in dealing with this portion of 'the district is the number of people who' persist in shooting ovejr properties with the result that every poisoning is more or less spoilt.

As instructed by the Board at. last meeting I carried out an inspection of the county adjoining the northern portion of the Board’s area, in company with Stock Inspector Palmer, and if the Boat’d wishes to take in more areas we would recommend that. 250 acres abojve the Bulls bridge be brought into the Boaixl area. In company with Stock Inspector Fleming I made an inspection of the country adjoining the southern portion of the Boalrd area and if considered necessary wo would recommend taking in an area amounting to 1200 acres. The portion adjoining the Kaimatarau boundary of the Board’s district will he inspected by Inspector Fleming and myself during the coming week. During the coining month I shali lie engaged in , sending out the usual statutory notices required under the Act .and in general inspection work.

INTERESTING STATISTICS. For the information of the members the secret-ary submitted the following statistics in anticipation of the iManawabu and Horowhenua areas being. amalgamated. The annual cost of running the 'Board is 1 7/8d pea’ acre as between the ratepayers and the Government, in other words it costs either party I's/lfid per acre to administer the law governing the eradication of the pest. -As time wears on the movement in the cost of administration has a downward tendency but this is so slight that it cannot he carried out for any sum below 2d per acre unless a cut in salaries is made periodically in Avhich ease .a pro rate reduction in the rate per acre will assuredly follow. The foregoing annual cost is obtained by striking the average cost per annum over the period of 4 years’ operation and to exaggerate the cost on the side of being able to do the work for less money will to my mind place any Board in a “fools paradise.” In my opinion the Horowhenua . district with an area of, say, 36,-

000 acres, can be run by this Board for the sum of ltd per acre over a, period of 3 to 4 years after which the rate can be reduced to 15/16d per acre. The present service is worth £OOO and for an area of 36,000 acres it will prove costly to acquire. as the rate will have to be at least. 2d per acre and to buy a cheaper service in order to keep the rate within due bounds may not be so efficient. In the event of any amalgamation taking place I would suggest that the Board be at liberty to levy a rate over the Horowhenua area as follows: Fiist year 13d per acre Second year lid per aere. Third year lid per acre. Fourth year Id per acre. Fifth year and onward l's/16d per acre. 3600 acres at 13d pm - acre, £2fi2 10/-; subsidy £262 10/-, a total of £525.

36,000 acres at 14d per 1 acre, £225; subsidy £225, a total of £450. 36,(MT0 acres at l|d per acre, £lB7 10/-; subsidy £lB7 10/-, a total of £375. 36,000 acres at Id per acre, £150; subsidy £l5O, a total of £3OO. 36,000 acres at 15/16d per acre, £l4O 12/6; subsidy £l4O. 12/6, a ■total of £2Bl 5/-.. 85,000 acres at 15/16d per acre, £332 0/74; subsidy £332 0/74, a total of £664 1/3. Expenditure: —1928, £ 36 11/10; 1927, £634 9/3; 1926, £673 4/11; 1925, £679 14/4; a total of £2624 0/4, or an average of £656 a year, the Board’s contribution being £328 and Government subsidy £328.