RABBIT POISONING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9377, 22 February 1909, Page 5

RABBIT POISONING.

At the meeting of the Kiwitea County Council on Saturday Or. Brice asked, on behalf of the Waituna Branch of the Farmers’ Union, that the Council Supply ratepayers with rabbit poison free, and appoint a day for poisoning.

The Chairman said there was such a poor response to siaular action of the Council last year that he was not in favour of the Council providing tree poison. Cr. Biire said rabbits were increasing; recently he had seen rabbits on his property at Fee'p-O’-Day where he bad never seen them before.

Cr. Fowler said any farmer could obtain poison from the Stock Inspector just as well as the Council could. So much poison had been left on the hands of the Council last year, settlers not having taken advantage of the offer of the Council, that he was not in favour of repeating the experiment. The Chairman said there was a tendency to lean too much on the local body or-the Government. He thought the Council should fix the date for poisoning but the farmers should provide what poison they needed. A farmer’s duty was to clear his land from rabbits as from weeds. Cr. Morton said there was one advantage in the Council supplying it which was that each farmer could then obtain just the quantity he watuted. If obtained direct from the Stock Inspector not less than iGIb tins could be had.

Or. Brice said he did not agree with the Chairman in deeming the proposal to supply poison free as new. For many years had been the practice of some County Councils to act with ratepayers in toe destruction of small birds. He considered this proposal was on similar lines.

Cr. McNeil stated that last year the rabbit poisoning in his locality had been very beneficial and effective.

Resolved (Crs. McNeil—Mclntyre) That free poison be provided to ali ratepayers throughout the County ; also the clerk arrange with the Rabbit Inspector to appoint a data for general poisoning.