RABBIT BOARD FINANCES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4433, 29 March 1930, Page 3

RABBIT BOARD FINANCES.

RETK BNQIIMENT NECESSARY.

FARMER'S TO PAY FULL COST

OF POISON. Estimates for the coining year were considered at Thursday’s meeting of the Mauawatu Rabbit Board when the fact was disclosed that unless some retrenchment was made the rate would have to be raised. An inspection of the estimates disclosed the fact that £l2O was paid per annum by the Board in meeting half the cost of poisons which were retailed at half cost price to the farmers in the Board’s district. WRh the cancellation of this arrangement and the charging of farmers with full costs for the poison it was found that the present rate of :(d per acre would be' sufficient to meet the Board’s demands for the coming year.

A motion to the effect that the rate be :jd per acre for the year 11)30-31 was moved emobdied in which was a clause to the effect that farmers be charged the full cost (8/-) per tin for poison in future. The inspector (Mr. D. R. Barron) considered the move an unfortunate step. The farmers, he said, should be given all the assistance they could in the ridding of the pest. Times were hard and it was not an opportune time to increase any charges for them. Mr. Grant said the Board had given the farmers considerable help in the past and he did not think they would object to the payment of an extra few shillings. The £l2O was the Board's half share of the cost, of poisons and this would ho spread over all the farmers engaged in rabbit eradication. Those who had cleared their properties would not he affected. Trustee Grammar: The altei’native is to put the rate up to Id.

Trustee Grant said the. farmers were gelling a concession as it was by the Board purchasing the poison and retailing it at cost price. Some Boards would not be bothered with poisons at all. Trustee Raikes said the Board even delivered the poison free of cost. He was of opinion that the Board should not stock poison, but leave it to storekeepers to stock. The chairman said that previously depots had been established but had not proved satisfactory and the Board had lost a good deal of money.

The secretary did not view with favour the establishment of depots mil it was decided to stock poison is in the past, but to cancel the rebate of half cost.