BUNNY HUG AT HUNUA

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 532, 18 May 1920, Page 2

BUNNY HUG AT HUNUA

SETTLERS AT LOGGERHEADS. "ASTOUNDING EFFRONTERY." RABBIT BOARD QUESTION. (Own Correspondent). A rather exciting meeting was held in the Hunua Hall on Wednesday afternoon, May 12. The meeting ,was called by Mr. Milne, of Moumoukai, with a request that the committee set up to arrange preliminaries with regard to the formation of a rabbit board be present. The hall was well filled with settlers, those frem Paparimu, Paparata Valley and Moumoukai being well in the majority. Mr. T. J. James was voted to the chair. Immediately on the chaiiman taking his seat it at once became apparent that the proceedings would be somewhat lively. Mr. Milne said that he had called the meeting because a resolution passed at the previous meeting had not been put into effect. He quoted from a copy of the "Franklin and Pukekohe Times" that in a report of the meeting "Mr!. Milne proposed and Mr McEntee seconded, 'that a committee be set up to arrange boundaries and to report at a future meeting.'" This, Mr. Milne said, had not been done, and ftiom a conversation he had had with Mr. T. J. Lockwood, the committee was proceeding with the petition and had no intention of calling a meeting. He would therefore propose "that the resolution of the previous meeting, that the necessary steps be taken Je formation of a rabbit board, should be rescinded." This was immediately seconded. Mr. Lockwood was quickly on his feet, and appealed on a point of order, lie said no rescinding proposition could be proposed without notice of motion. The chairman ruled in this direction, and at the same time reminded Mr. Milne that this meeting was irregular, as it had been convened out of order. Mr. Milne: "Why was the proposed meeting not convened?" Mr. Heald: "We had nothing to state." M»1. Robertson said that if the Hunua settlers had poisoned to the same extent that the Paparimu settlers had done, a rabbit board would be unnecessary. Mr Hillam (secretary of the Hunua Rabbit Extermination Committee) told the meeting that during the last year one and a-quarter tons of phospherised pollard had been distributed among the Hunua settlers, and this had been laid at intervals during the year. He stated that he had found it work with the Paparimu committee, owing to their giving insufficient notice when their poisoning would take place. Mr. Gamble (secretary of the Paparimu Committee): "Mr. Hillam told me 'there w.eve no rabbits in Hunua."

' Mr. Hillam: "I was joking." Mr. Robertson: "Would not neopk be likdy to believe that?" Mr. Hillam: "Only some people.' I Order was restored, and Mr Milne . asked Mr. Lockwood what would bt , the cost of the whole business. ' Mr. Lockwood replied that he was ' not in a position to state definitely. ' The rate}, with the subsidy, would ; produce V.200 to £250, perhaps more, ' and that would help to nay the sal- [ ary of a sub-inspector. Poison would I be purchased and distributed to the farmers, who would poison under the supervision of the inspector. Mr. Milne ridiculed this, and said the proposed district was too cumbersome. The spirit of the 1918 Rabbit Act favoured the formation of small districts up to about 2000 acres, and for the settlers in these districts to foim rabbit boards. Mr. Aitkin then moved, and Mr. Milne seconded: "That the districts of Moumoukai. Paparimu and Paparata Valley be deleted from the proposed rabbit board boundaries.'. Mr. Morgan moved as an amendment: "That this be referred to a more llepresentative meeting." There was no seconder to the amendment . The resolution was then put to the vote, and was carried by a large maI jority. MIV Hillam then asked for the indulgence of the meeting. He said he was not a ratepayer,, but was a resident of Hunua, and therefore was interested in the proceedings. He said he was astounded alt the effrontery of one section of the district convening a meeting and requesting the committee to be present •/ >r the purpose of catechising them. He reminded them that the whole meeting was out of order, and if the committee so chose the decision arrived at could be totally ignored by the committee. He told the meeting that had he been on the committee he would have refused to answer! leir questions, some of which were I

grossly unfair. They had apparent lv gained their object, and small c;e dit to tthem, as they had ably mar shallod their forces, and wisely chosen their spokesman. Mr. Milne: That is an insult! Mr. Hillam: 1 apologise for any personal insult: none was intended. 1 spoke to the meeting not to indi-

viduals. Mr. Lockwood then explained to the meeting how and when his conversation with Mr. Milne had taken place. He saw Mr. Milne as he was hunrying to catch a train, and was speaking to him no longer than two minutes. M.i. Milne: Those two minutes were enough for me. Mr. Lockwood said that the more courteous thing for Mr. Milne to have done would have been for Mr. Milne to have written to him requesting a meeting, and stating in writing his reasons for his request. At this juncture the chaiiman (Mr James) said that as the business was concluded he would close the meeting. , A hearty vote of thanks to tfie chain was carried by acclamation.