RABBIT BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 221, 18 August 1937, Page 10

RABBIT BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) FOXTON, Aug. 14. The monthly meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board was presided over by trustee B. G. Gower (chairman). Also present wero Trustees R. D. McKolvic, R. Craig, ancl M. C. Toogood. All apology for absence was received from 1 rustec 11. It. Denize. , . The director, Live Stock Division, wrote advising that in future the Government subsidy would not bo available in connection with poisoning work carried out, by the board on private property.—Received tho secretary advising that the board did not undertake any private work. Correspondence was read from the forestry officer, Railway Department, advising that lie was anxious to clean up the railway reserves between Foxfon and Ilimatnngi, and asking advice regarding rabbit destruction work. Satisfaction was ox--pressed that the department was taking some action in this connection at last and it was hoped that it would carry on tho work as far as Rangiotu. The inspector was instructed to* co-operate with the department. The clerk reported that £143 in current rates had been received, representing 54 per cent, of the total amount of £276 struck, as compared with 59 per cent, received at the same time last year. Accounts amounting to £SB Is 4d were passed for pa.iwnf. The inspector (Mr D. R. Barron) reported as follows: —The weather has heon very suitable for seasonal rabbit work, both strychnine carrot poisoning and fumigation. Good progress lias been made with strychnine poisoning and very little of tho area now remains in which this work has not taken place. Tallies on the whole are much lower than last year, and in one case the tally of hares was over 70 per cent, of that of rabbits killed. A fair amount of cyanide fumigation has taken place with very good results as the land is in perfect order for this class of work. There are still certain owners qf property who do not carry out necessary work when requested until pressure is brought to hear, and the owners of such properties inspected during the month have received notices which will bo followed up with personal inspection later, and if necessary prosecution. Breeding is now in evidence and every effort should bo made to cope with any increase. The clearing of noxious ■weeds is being carried out on a number of properties and road-lines and good work is being done.