COPING WITH THE RABBIT PEST.

Shannon News, 25 October 1929, Page 3

COPING WITH THE RABBIT PEST.

PROPOSAL TO FORM A BOARD FOR HOROWHENUA. GOOD RESULTS ELSEWHERE. “Brer Rabbit," although ore of the most defenceless creatures in the whole realm of nature, is able to interfere seriously with primary production. Ilis tribe won the admiration of a small boy who was slow at arithmetic, because of their ability to multiply with great rapidity. Therein lies the secret cf their power—a power that lus had its parallels in the evolution of humanity, when Eastern hordes overran Europe. Although our four-footed brethren are not able to advance with fire and sword, they cause _ trouble enough to the farmer by billeting themselves on his pastures. On this account settlers have for many years been resisting the onset by various methods, such as poisoning, trapping, and, since the War, gassing the rodents in their burrows. The main factor for success, however, lies in organisation, and it is with tills-thought in mind that a number of those interested are moving for the formation of a Rabbit Board to operate in! the Hol-owhenua district. Rabbits have been on the increase in recent years in the coastal country lying to* the south of the Manawatu River, which forms a boundary of the Manawatu Rabbit Board’s district; and this increase has been more especially noticeable on the lands south of the Ilokio Stream.

The Minister of Agriculture can permit the formation of a Rabbit Board upon the presentation of a petition from the majority of ratepayers in a district, such ratepayers being the holders of properties of more than ten acres respectively. The settlers concerned are required to late themselves to cover the working expenses of the Board, either on a bas s ,of acreage, stock-carrying capacity, ; or rateable value. All the rates collected bear a subsidy of £1 for £1 from the Department of Agriculture. The Board can functon as a supervising body, or. can employ men to destroy rabbits, collecting its funds and administering them after the manner of a local body.

Quite a number of Rabbit Boards have been formed in New Zealand of late years, and in all. cases they have met with success. A good example is afforded in the ease of the Manawatu Board. A few years ago rabbits were met with in great numbers along the roads of its district, but now they are actually hard to find. The rate leyied by that Board is equivalent to about one halfpenny per "acre, and it has a downward tendency. A lightening of the cost is generally a feature of the operations of the Boards, and in no ease has the rate been increased.

A meeting of settlers on the coast country between the Manawatu River and Otaki Borough is called for Wednesday next, at 2 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Lot in, and representatives of the Agricultural Department will be in attendance. The object is the formation of a Board, and it will be for that body to deeide the extent of its district, but it is believed that it would operate successfully over an area of 35,000 acres. What would appear to be a businesslike proposition is that its territory should be joined to that of the Manawatu Board, so as to minimise overhead charges. One reason for the relatively fast increase of the rabbit pest is considered to be the destruction wrought twelve or more months ago among ferrets and weasels —natural enemies of the rabbit —by the- wave of distemper that swept through the district and took a heavy toll of cattle-dogs and sheep-dogs. It is known that both the ferrets and the weasels are particularly susceptible to this highly contagious disease. Irrespective of the causes of the rabbit ascendancy, however, the present move by a number of laudholders is undoubtedly a wise one, and by attending in good force farmcr.will be protecting their own interests.