MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4432, 27 March 1930, Page 2

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

M() X TIILY MEETING. 'The monthly meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board was held in tlfe secretary’s office this afternoon, presided over by Trustee B. (i. Gower (chairman). Also present were Trustees Grant, J. Gloyn, F. C. Raikes, T. Grammar and the secretary (Mr. lL Rangiheuea). Mr. D. R. Barron (inspector) was also in attendance. WELCOME TO MR. GRANT.

In extending a welcome to Mr. Grant, the Government representative on the Board, the chairman paid a tribute to Mr. Grant’s predecessor, the late Mr. Cook and he hoped the same happy relations would continue as between the Department and Board as in the past. The same good feelings had existed during the period that Mr. Fleming had temporarily tilled the position.

In responding to the chairman’s welcome, Mr. Grant said that he hoped the same confidence reposed in his predecessors by the Board would be fully justified in his ease. He had had some 27 years’ experience with the Department in rabbit and stock work and that experience would always be at the service of ihe Board and its inspector (applause). CORRESPONDENCE was read and dealt with as follows : From the Manawatu County Council, enclosing list of alterations to the rate roll. —'Received. From the Government Printer, forwarding order form for the 1930 Mu ni c i pal II aml book. —Received.

From Messrs Holmes and S. Simrox, re the petition at present being circulated in the Tlorowhenua district with a view to obtaining the signatures of settlers to have a Rabbit Board formed. Air. Simcox wrote to the effect that practically all the signatures required had now been obtained between his place and the Otnki River and the petition was now in the hands of Mr. C. C. Holmes who was canvassing the area up the Oluiu River. Only one settler had refused to sign the petition. Mr. Simcox further intimated that he had forwarded a list of the absentee farmers to the Stock Inspector for him to attend to.

NOXIOUS WEEDS CONTROL.* A reply was received to ' the Hoard’s queries in regard to the operation of Noxious Weeds control in Kiwitea Rabbit Board’s disD id in which that Board stated that the Kiwitea Rabbit district embraced the whole of the Kiwitea i i.uty with the exception of the Cheltenham Riding, a portion of the Hugo Riding and a few properties in :hc Kiwitea Riding. The control of eradication of noxious weeds by the Board was confined solely to the Board’s area and the Board did not receive any contribution towards the Inspector’s expenses from the Lh pertinent of Agriculture other ethaii the subsidy payment in terms of ilie Rabbit Nuisance Act, but ibis year a contribution of £5 was made towards the. cost of the stalioiiei'.v and stamps in connection with the service of statutory notices. The Department, however, .applied free of cost the required books of statutory notices. FIXANCIA L STATEMENT. The financial statement was read and adopted as follows: — Receipts:—Balance 1/1/29, £fiO IS S: rates, £258 14/11; penalties, £3 14/(1; court fines, £4 15/-; Government subsidy, £203 12/6; poim)ns, £BS 4/-; miscellaneous, £1 S/2; F. 0.5.8. withdrawals, £350; a total of £968 7/9. Expenditure: — Salaries, £657 10/-; printing, stationery and advertising, £23 2/11; office expenses, £.lB 4/1; poisons, '£ls3 5/2; ‘plume charges, £l7; miscellaneous, i;49 19/5; travelling expenses, £42 A/-; balance 28/3/30, £7 2/2; a total .of £968 7/9. Accounts amonting to £56 10/11 were passed for payment. INSPECT!) IPS REPORT. During the past month I have been engaged in the. general inspection of properties in the Board area more especially in regard to ihose areas in which further work had been requested. The necessary work has now, been carried out on these properties and a strict watch will in future he kept on such areas so that their present condition can be maintained. A fair amount of fumigation has been carried out during the month and in most eases has been quite successful in spite of the very dry conditions obtaining nt present. Owing to the long „pell of line weather the country at present is very dry, and breeding is going on in most areas, in fact, it has never stopped right throughout the season this year, and rabbits have been able to live in the cover most of the time and this has made fumigation more difficult. As pointed mut to farmers it is quite useless at this time of the year to fumigate successfully near any “cover” unless dogs are used to drive out any rabbits there may be in the cover. a The Board area is in very fair order at present, but with the breeding going on as stated, it will be necessary to take great care in seeing that all breeding is kept down and this can only be done by keeping all burrows fumigated. On inspection of what was one of the worst areas adjoining the Rangitikei river bed I found that the country was greatly improved as a result of the work done by the rabbitev employed by the Board and 1 have requested those farmers whose land adjoins this area to follow up the work already done by carrying out a fumigation simultaneously. This I think, should •hold the pest wel lin check until a

systematic strychnine poisoning can he carried out in about two months time. During the coming month I shall bt- engaged in general inspection work.