STOCK INSPECTION AT LEVIN.

Shannon News, 18 January 1927, Page 3

STOCK INSPECTION AT LEVIN.

NO RESIDENT OFFICER. A negative reply has been received from the Hon. O. J. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, to the representations made by the Horowhenua County Council, at "the request of the Levin Borough Council, for the re-appointment of a resident stock inspector. - The Minister's communication, which was read at the County Council meeting on Saturday, was as follows: '' The matter of an Inspector of Stock being retained at Levin has been given careful consideration, but I regret that it is not considered warranted under present circumstances to retain an inspectorship at Levin. At the outset it might be mentioned that prior to and subsequent to the re-organisation of the Department in 1918-19 there was not an Inspector of Stock* at Levin until October, 1922, when an Inspector was stationed in the district with Levin as his headquarters. One of the considerations that brought about the decision was the increase of rabbits which had taken place in the lower erid of the Manawatu district, and with a view to combating this invasion by instituting a closer supervision over that part of the district. , "The district affected has now been formed into a Rabbit Board carrying a subsidy from the Government, and as a consequence it was recommendted to the Department by the District Superintendent, Wellington, that Levin as a separate district be abolished and again become a part of Palmerston North and Wellington districts respectively.. "By the creation of Rabbit Boards where advisable, and the payment of subsidies by the Government, it is reasonable to expect that at least, some compensating saving should be effected in the ordinary expenditure of the Department in regard to the expenditure on rabbit destruction and'supervision. "All Avork requiring the attention of an Inspector of Stock in the district Avill be attended to by the Inspectors of stock Avith headquarters at Palmerston North and Wellington respectively, the northern end by the Inspector of Stock at Palmerston North and the southern end by the inspector at Wellington.. "It is confidently expected by the Department that the re-arrangement Avill enable all reasonable'requirements to -be ful-filled Avithout inconvenience to the settlers in the district.'.'

The Chairman (Cr. Monk) sold he could not help thinking that the reply was somewhat satisfactory. They should iiot place any obstacles in the Avay of Departmental saving being effected, provided that it Avas consistent Avith fair efficiency—though it Avas certainly a convenience to the tOAvn to have the stock inspector stationed here. They were not going to lose the. whole efficiciency through the inspector's removal and the fact of the Avork being dealt with from Palmerston and Wellington as previously. Cr. Barber: They are doing excellent Avork as regards rabbits. Cr. Catley remarked that the inspector at Palmerston had too much country to cover. On the motion of the chairman, it Avas resolved that the letter be re- . ceived.