COUNTY AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1938, Page 9

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MEETING OF EKETAHUNA COUNCIL. CONTROL OF RABBITS.

At a meeting of the Eketahuna County Council yesterday there were present Councillors J. B. Carruthers (in the chair), C. T. Richardson, G. Olivant, A. E. Brittain, L. Houlbrooke, F. Goggin, R. W. Kebbell, H. N. Kebbell, W. O. Twentyman and A. J. Perry. A letter from the Director-General of Agriculture stated that the only means of taking the powers granted in the Rabbit Nuisance Act was by way of creating a rabbit district with a controlling board. Under the present legislation a county had not the power to control rabbits in the district. Cr Richardson moved that the Government be asked to amend the present legislation giving counties the same powers as rabbit boards. Cr Perry considered that the present system of inspection would not be improved by county control, and that the expenditure of county funds on inspection would not be justified. Cr Brittain: “We need far better inspection than we have had.” Cr Perry: “I agree that the inspection has been a little slack but it is being tightened up.” Cr Kebbel: “There is as much inspection work carried each week in the Waikato as there is each year in' this district.” The chairman: “We have the power to take over the matter of weed control and are asking for the same power with regards to rabbits.”

The motion was carried. It was decided that the rent to be charged for each of the two new cottages at Alfredton be fixed at 18/6 per week.

Mr A. White, Waipawa, was appointed as mechanic-storeman and Mr S. Harford .was appointed foreman at Alfredton. Mr G. C. Watson’s resignation as a member of the staff was accepted.