THE RABBIT PEST.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 61, 26 July 1915, Page 2

THE RABBIT PEST.

Eradication Measures.

The Farmers' Union in Waiuku is faking active steps to deal with the rabbit nuisance, and recently a commit ee was appointed to go into tne matter with a wish to having effective steps taken to combat the pest. At Friday's meeting of the branch the president, Mr A. Hull, reported that only six of the members of the committee appointed to draw up boundaries of a district had attended a meeting that bad been convened. Although that number was not a quorum, those present bad gone into the question of boundaries roughly, and had considered it would be best to add another district to work the while area properly, making the number of areas seven instead of six. The question was whettur they would have to apopoint another subcommittee.

Mr Bent said they bad a Rabbit Committee in bis district which had done good work, and if they all did that the idea of hiving a central committee was only making more work. The president said the idea was that the sub committees could refer certaio matters to the central committee. The secretary, Mr U. 0. Mcllsop, said he had been speaking to some of the members ot ibe Otaua Committee, and they were dissatisfied with the working of the department in connection with rabbits. He had since seen the inspector, who aaid he could not prosecute without permission from Wellington. For that r*asou the Otaua people were keener on going in with the others, the idea being that one large central committee would have more weight with the Department than any littls sub-committee for one district.

The matter dropped at this stage, and when it came up later in the evening Mr uSellsopssid tbey might get the matt?r settled about the ! inspector having to get permission to take proceedings. The president said there had been several remits down foi discussion at the recent Farmers' Union Conference regarding this matter. He thought that at present theie was too much red tape about the matter. He moved that the secretary be authurised to write to the Minister for Land', pointing out the disadvantages the farmera ire labouring under owiog to tbe roundabout wsy provided for prosecutions in connection with rabbits and noxious weeds. He said tbey should see if they could get tonic alteration made by which there would be less "red tape," for the present position most be very annoyins to the inspectors.

The motion was seconded by Mr S. N. West and carried.