INCREASE OF RABBITS FEARED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4406, 25 January 1930, Page 3

INCREASE OF RABBITS FEARED.

IN CERTAIN PARTS

BOARD DESIRES MORE DRASTIC ACTION.

At Thursday’s meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board, Trustee W. E. Barber said he was disappointed to find the rabbits were continuously reported to be showing' up in a certain portion of the Taikorea district. In his opinion there must be a weakness somewhere and if the Board was going to maintain its present position something would have to be done to eradicate the pest m this quarter. Trustee Boswell said that possibly a prosecution would serve a good purpose. If there was carelessness an example should be made of the offender.

The inspector said that some farmers did as they were instructed but in the course of their work possibly overlooked a burrow or so with the result that rabbits continually showed up. The chairman: Perhaps some of them just do enough to keep clear of the law.

The inspector said that in some 'cases if properties were not inspected regularly 'they would soon be just as badly infested as if the Board were not in existence. A few ridges in the middle of good country were causing all the trouble in the area mentioned. The Board I’eeommended the inspector to take moire stringent action where necessary for the protection of the farmers who were conscientiously carrying out their obligations to the Board. RABBITS AT WIHROKLNO. .

The inspector reported that he had been informed by a local resident that there were rabbits showing up on the river bank just below the Whirokino bridge. If this were so it was rather interesting as practically the whole of the surrounding country was swamp. The chairman stated that there had been a few rabbits in the locality mentioned for the past twenty years. They inhabited a piece of high ground which was not affected by the flood waters but had never multiplied to any great extent. This matter will pi’obably receive attention when the (Board takes over the proposed Horowhenua area.

PEST A T TANG-IMOANA. Trustee Barber mentioned that he had noticed rabbit sea-apes at Tangimoana during the course of an inspection of the Government’s afforestation works arid asked if the inspector had been over this area lately. Mr. Barron stated that he had not inspected the area as the Government carried out its own eradication work there every winter and it was in the interests of the young ! roes for them to see that there were no, rabbits there. The method adopted by the Afforestation officers to keep the rabbits down was poisoning.

Trustee Barber: That is not always the most effective method. There is need for care that the pest does not take a hold in that locality.

The chairman: I quite agree. A careful inspection of the area is most necessary. It was decided that the inspector carry out an inspection of the afforestation area at the earliest possible date.