RABBITERS’ WAGES

Southland Times, Issue 24828, 21 August 1942, Page 4

RABBITERS’ WAGES

No Government Subsidy

(Special) WELLINGTON, August 20. “My department has no money available for subsidizing the Wages of rabbiters employed by rabbit boards other than the subsidy paid to boards on the rates collected by them as provided under the Rabbit Nuisance Act and which will continue to be paid,” said the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, replying in the House of Representatives to an urgent question by Mr W. M. C. Denham (Lab., Invercargill). Mr Denham had asked whether, for the purpose of exterminating rabbits, the Minister would continue to pay the subsidy as hitherto. As,the matter had an'important bearing on primary production in Southland, and also successfully to combat the rabbit pest, it was necessary to begin fumigating work in the early spring. Would the Minister give favourable consideration to the representations already made to him by the Council of Rabbit Boards, which were anxious to start fumigating operations at once? Mr Denham asked.

In a note to the question Mr Denham said that rabbit boards had been very successful in keeping rabbits in check, and unless the subsidy was made available this work would have to cease, which would adversely affect farm production. The work of fumigating, apart from being essential in the national interest, would provide for men not physically fit for a heavier class of work.