SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1940, Page 10

SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED

RABBIT GATE AT MOKAU MINISTER'S DECISION "Rabbits are coming in from the Ohura district by the dozen; they don t need to come over the Mokau River bridge," remarked Mr. A. R. Alpe, the Uruti delegate, at a meeting of the North Taranaki provincial executive of the Farmers' Union on Friday when a letter was read from the Hon. W. Lee Martin. Minister of Agriculture, regretting that he was unable to accede to the request that the rabbit gate on the Mokau River bridge be removed. The position had been investigated and it would appear that while the soUthern side of the bridge was free from rabbits. the northern part was not, and the danger of rabbits gaining access to the clean area across the bridge was still viewed with concern by the settlers, stated the Minister. It was also, he said, the opinion of his officers that the gate should remain, and in view of all the circumstances, particularly the virtual freedom of the southern county from rabbit infestation, he regretted that he could not agree to the removal of the gate. Evidently the department did not understand the position, for though there were not quite as many rabbits in the southern portion, there were certainly rabbits there, it was stated. Who were the settlers that viewed the position with concern? said the chairman in pointing out that the request for the removal of the rabbit gate had come from the Mokau branch. "Only Used the Roads." The letter would make it appear that rabbits only used the roads, said a delegate. There were rabbits in the beach and bush country in the Egmont county, remarked Mr. W. J. Wright, Rahotu. From 'experience with rabbits in the South Island he was satisfied that there was not any danger of the pest increasing to any great extent, remarked Mr. J. H. Hopkins. There had been rabbits in the Uruti district for the past twenty years, but so far the settlers, by shooting, had been able to prevent them from increasing, said Mr. Alpe, adding that during the period only two burro'ws had been found in the district. Though the general opinion of delegates was that the gate was closed at nights, several of those present stated that they had found it open on several occasions. It was decided to refer the Minister's reply to the Mokau branch.