PROPOSED RABBIT BOARD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 55, 12 July 1915, Page 3

PROPOSED RABBIT BOARD.

Considerable diesussion took place at tha meeting of the Franklin County Council on Tiiursdiy of last week on a resolution moved by the chairman, Cr Flanagan, acd seconded by Cr Loekwood, that a Kabbit Board should be established to embrace tie rchcls of the County. Cr Motion opposed, pointing out thst as some paits of the County weie either free from or were little troubled wito rabbits it wculd be unfair fcr the whole of the County ■to b3 brought under the jurisdiction and incur tbs expense if a Kabbit Board. He moved as 311 amendment that any Kabbit Board formed should be confined (0 specified districts.

Cr Wilcox seconded. A Kabbit Board, he said, was all light where the holdings were laigv, but vta? always costly. In his own district a local committee had-been formal and had achieved coed results. Cr Kenall claimed that Kabbit Beards haJ generally proved uneuceeasfal. Districts Comimtie's were much to te preferred and did batter work. He pointed out that wire fenunc, which was enforced by Rabbit Boards, would ba particularly costly no\r osing ti excessively hi'h prices'. If tne inspector did Lis duty the ribbits coulj be coped with, aiid if one rspector was n.L sufficient additional ones should be appointed.

Ih3 chairman clairr.ed that the method cf appointing inspectors to deal with rabbi'n had failed. Inspectors were rirsi appointeJ 25 years ago, when there were very few rabbits in Franklin County, hut now the Coat.ty was over-tcn with t h e p:st, despite tne activity of the inspector. The working of committees meant that defaulter* had to ba reported, but no one liked to inform ou Hi 3 neighbour. Cr Wilcox: I will report everyone if he does net act.

Cuniauicg, tpe chairman said Lc had no taith in voluntary efforts es they were spasmodic and after a spurt died down. Rabbits did lot on their part die, but muliipli.d. An instance had been i'cport2d to him where in his riding 30 acres r.f turnips had been sown, bin not a single rcot matured owirg to the depredations oi' rabbits. In another case whole fields of oats and green feed had been destroyed. Cr Motion's amendment was carried, only the chairman and Cr Lockwood dissenting. The chairman thereupon intimated that he would consider before next meeting whether he would submit a fresh resolution restricting a Rabbit Board to certain areas.