HUNUA RABBIT BOARD QUESTION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 536, 1 June 1920, Page 3

HUNUA RABBIT BOARD QUESTION.

Sir, —Kindly permit me space to reply to "Own Correspondent's" remarks re meeting held _at Hunua, that appeared'in the "Times of May \ 18, headed "Bunny Hug," and "Astounding Effrontery." I will briefly explain' why the meeting was held. On Saturday, >ptfl 20, a meeting of ratepayers of the Hunua Riding was held at Hunua, Mr. T. J. Lockwood being the convenor. Only about sixteen ratepayers attended, as ratepayers had dot been notified that a meeting would be held. It was decided to form a rabbit board, and a committee was set up to define boundaries, and submit to a future meeting of ratepayers for their acceptance or rejection. Mr. Lockwood was elected secretary to the committee. On May 4 I met Mr. Lockwood at Papakura, and asked him when the committee was going to call the meeting«J»f ratepayers to submit their report on the boundaries of the proposed rabbit board to them. Mr. Lockwood told me that they were not going to call another meeting, and that they (the committee) had instructed a solicitor to prepare a petition, and as soon as it was reedy it would be circulated through the riding for signatures. I strongly opposed the formation of a rabbit board, as Mr. Lockwood and committee knew, and I knew that my neighbours, and all the Paparimu settlers I had spoken to of the board, were against it also, and would have attended the first meeting had they known about i). After seeing Mr. Lockwood on May 4, I got into communication with the Pfiparimu and Paparata seittlers, and tdld them that he did not intend to call another meeting. They asked me to convene a meeting of ratepayeis to be held at Hunua, and ask the committee who were appointed to enquire into boundaries to attend, and give us the information we wanted re the proposed board. This I did, and the hall was full. I asked at ithis meeting what the working cost of the board would be, and how they intended to get rid of the rabbits. Mr. Lockwood replied that he considered a rate of 3-16ths of a penny would be sufficient. This, with Government subsidy, would give the board £2OO ito work op. The board would buy poison and supply

farmers, and then pay an inspector to go round and see that the poison was laid down right side up. No, Sir, there is roughly 20,00 acres in 'the Hunua Riding, and the fact that Mr. Lockwood proposed to buy and distribute poison, and pay a clerk and an inspector, all on £2OO a year, shows any right-minded person how ridiculous Mr. Lockwood's proposal of &-16khs of a penny is. I explained to the meeting that if once the rabbit board was formed, ratepayers were liable to be rajted up to lo per £l, buf not to exceed Is per acre. I eertainls?ridieuled the idea that 5.200 a year WJB going to pay | he expenses of the board. As for your correspondent s alleged astounding effrontery, the only instance of effrontery was when Mr. Hillam, who is not a ratepayer, and therefore had no business at the nieeting, had the audacity to catechise the meeting. I would advise Mr Hillam, in the future, to wait until his opinion is asked for in matters concerning the ratepayers at anyrare. As for requesting (the commit vee to be present .for the purpose of catechising them, "Correspondent is off the mark again. The committee were asked to attend to give the settlers the informaion they were elected to cbtJiin, and considering it was the settlers of the whole riding who were being asked to raite themselves to provide soft jobs for another msp«tor and clerk, I fail to see where the effrontery came in on their part. In conclusion, Sir, I would like to remark |that there was absolutely no ill-feeling at the meeting, » nd \ hat reports such as submitted by Own Correspondent" do .not tend to make matters harmonise. Trusting I have not trespassed too long on the pitality of your columns. R. B. MILNE.

Moumoukai, Hunua, May 24, 1920. (The above letter is dated May 24 but it did not reach our office until Saturday, May 29, hence it was too late for our last issue.—fc-d. r. and P. Times.")