HUNUA VALLEY

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 522, 13 April 1920, Page 2

HUNUA VALLEY

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS.

PROPOSED RABBIT BOARD.

(Staff Representative). A meeting of ratepayers of ilunua Valley was held in the Hunua Hall on Satuilday afternoon to discuss various matters of importance, principally the formation of a labbit board, and the 1918 Act, Mr T. J. James was voted to the chair. Cr. T. J. Lockwood, Franklin County Council member for Hunua Riding, convener of the meeting, strongly advocated the formation of a board, citing cases where such bodies had done and were doing remarkably effective work In support of his views he quoted at lengh from the Act.

Mr. Lockwood considered that a rate of 3-16 of a penny in the *:l would be sufficient for Hunua. Most of the settlers were spending much more than that now in poisoning. The damage rabbits did was not only in what they ate but it was pioven that their urine destroyed the grass.

Mr. Milne considered that a board would not be effective, and that the only way to destroy rabbits was first to destroy blackberries, furze and other cover.

The chairman said he had intended to put a motion to the meeting, but he had not expected to be chairman, therefore he would ask someone else to move it as read. • Mr. Heald moved and M.'. Altchison seconded a motion that a board be formed.

\- Mr. Milne said there was about 400 acres of Government bush next to the boundary, where the rabbits bred. He did not see how they could erect rabbit netting, as many of the settlers could not even afford boundary fences. The aioa was tentatively defined as being the whole of the Hunaa Riding. Asked whether the virgin bush I country would be included in the rateable property, the answer was in the affirmative.

Mr Mclntce moved and Mr Milne seconded an amendment that a committee be formed to define an area, leaving out certain portions such as bush, and report to a further meet-

ing, Replying to criticism, Cr. Lockwood said the Government was supposed to destroy the rabbits on their own property. As to Mr. Milne.'s statement that he Government ei.iployees had been known to burv the poison instead of going to the trouble of laying it, then the answer to that was "that it was high time the matter was taken in hand by the farmers themselves. (Laughter and applause.) The ratepayers could fence off any such bush if they wished to, but fencing was not essential, as organised poisoning might make such unnecessary. Mr. Heald thought that if the committee started cutting out this and that area the whole scheme would be killed.

Cr. Lockwood concurred. The following committee was proposed: Messrs 11-aid, McNeil, James, Millbank. Aitehison, Lockwood and 1). McConnell. On Mr Mclntee's motion it was then made a direction to the committee to define the definite boundaries and report o a luture meetin°*. Mr. Milne promised to call a meeting of Moumoukai ratepayer to explain tmatter to them. At a subsequent meeting of the committee as appointed Mr. G. W. Heald was made chairman, and Mr. T. J. Lockwood secretary. Mr Lockwood was deputed to consult the council s solicitor with a \iew to drawing up a petition, after which the same to be submitted to the committee, and thereafter signatures would be solicited if the committee approved.