TO DEAL WITH THE RABBIT PEST.

Shannon News, 6 December 1929, Page 3

TO DEAL WITH THE RABBIT PEST.

question of merging horoWHENUA IN MANAWATU BOARD AREA. At Thursday’s meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board the question of whether the Horowhenua. district should be merged into the Manawatu Board’s area for the purpose of eliminating bunny was discussed. The Board’s principal objection to such amalgamation was on the question oi representation. Mr R. M. R. Findlay (Government Stock Inspector, of Wellington) waited on the Board on behalf o£ the settlers of the Horowhenua district who met recently at Levin and unanimously decided to form a Rabbit Board .0 govern the pest in the southern disMr Findlay was introduced by the chairman (.Mr B. G. Gower). Mr Findlay said he had. been deputed by the meeting held in Levin to attend the next meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board and find out if they viewed with favour the amalgamation of the two Boards. Mr D. R. Barron (inspector) reported on attending the Levin conference and outlined the resolutions carried at the meeting. Mr W. E. Barber asked if the Board had power to take the proposed southern area into its district. Mr Findlay said the new area would comprise 36,000 acres and there would be no difficulty in the matter of taking the area over. Mr Fleming questioned whether..the Board would be able to strike a separate rate over the new area in the event of its inclusion in the Manawatu district. This would be essential as the Manawatu district had now reacned a point where its expenses were decreasing whereas the expenses in connection with the proposed new block would be fairly high to start with. The secretary produced a copy of the Act which showed that an amalgamation would be possible together with the striking of a separate rate. Mr. Gloyn said the. Horowhenua people evidently desired an amalgamation in order to save expenses. Mr Findlay: That is so. The Government encourages larger areas as it refuses to pay subsidy on areas smaller than 20,000 acres. Mr Gloyn said he did not think the Government subsidy would last long with the present scarcity of money. Referring to Mr Findlay’s request, he did not think an amalgamation was necessary. The whole thing seemed to resolve itself into an extension of the Board’s district as no board had yet been formed in the Horowhenua district.

The question of representation then arose, the secretary intimating that there was a possibility of there being a reduction in number of representatives on the Manawatu' Rabbit Board next election. The Act now provided that five representatives ' were sufficient.

Mr Fleming said that there could be no alteration in representation until next election if an amalgamation took place. Mr Barber considered any reduction in representation on the Manawatu Board would be a very retrograde step. Wide representation was essential co the good working of a Board as each member knew his individual part of the district. It would be a good thing if they could assist the southern district and an amalgamation would Oe more economical to them but he felt a rearrangement in representation on the Board would not be satisfactory. If the area could be added to the district without any lessening of the representation at present obtaining on the Board it would be all right. Mr McKelvie said there was a pro ponderance of ratepayers in the north and there was a possibility that at an election the south might not be favoured with representation at all. Mr Findlay said the matter was more one of £. s. d. than representation. If the south was taken over by the Board the revenue would be increased to

large extent and would more than wav rant the appointment of a sub . inspect

Mr Cook said he did not think that the Board would show a loss over tin amalgamation. Mr Gloyn-did not favour the amalgamation. It would injure the Board to have its present representation cut down. Mr F. C. Eaikes said if the Board was satisfied with the present state of affairs there was not sufficient work for the inspector and it would be advisable to take over the southern area and appoint a sub inspector to work under him. If the Board, however, was not satisfied with the state of its district and desired to clean all the rabbits out it would bo a difficult matter.

Mr Gloyn expressed the opinion that the rabbits would never be exterminated and no matter how clean a district was there was always plenty of work to keep an inspector busy. The chairman questioned whether the Manawatu district would receive the same attention as it was getting now in the event of an amalgamation. Mr Findlay said the proposed new area was not very badly' infested nor was there much Native land in it. Mr Barber said it would be all right if the representation question could be settled.

Mr D. R. Barron said the desire of the meeting at Levin had been, to form a Board separate and distinct from Manawatu and to get the latter Board to administer affairs.

The secretary said if the south was compelled to carry on its own administration the rate would always be high as the district was so small. Mr Raikes said two separate Boards would be a go,od idea. It would then

be possible for the Manawatu Board to lend its inspector to the southern Board so many days a month. . Mr McKelvie said he did not think the southern settlers were aware of the fact that in the event of an amalgamation they would not be able to have representation on the Manawatu Rabbit Board for two and a half years—until'the next election. It was decided on the motion of the chairman and Mr W. E. Barber to ask the members of the proposed new board to meet the Manawatu Board at its next meeting to be held on the 19th December, when the matter will be further discussed.