RABBITS IN WAIRARAPA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 May 1941, Page 3

RABBITS IN WAIRARAPA

REPORTED INCREASE. ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY ACTION. Because of the increasing number of rabbits in the Wairarapa, it, was suggested to the monthly meeting of the council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society on Wednesday night, by a letter from the secretary of the Masterton branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, that the sale of skins of ferrets and weasels, the natural enemies of the rabbit, bo prohibited and that the bounty at present being paid by the society be done away with. The matter is to be referred to the North Island council.

During the past 12 months, the letter from the farmers’ union stated, thousands of ferrets had-been taken in the Wairarapa and trappers had been receiving 12s 6d a skin from furriers. If the trapping or killing of ferrets in preference to rabbits were to continue, the natural enemy of the rabbit would be so depleted that the whole district would be again over-run with rabbits. During recent years, ferrets had been able to keep rabbits in check. Last year the Government rabbiter advised that as long as ferrets and weasels were not interfered with, the district would continue to be kept clean. Once the rabbit was beyond the control of its natural enemies, other methods, such as poisoning, trapping, dogs and fumigating would have to be resorted to. “We must avoid the mistake of allowing the rabbit to increase as it did in 1914-18,” the letter stated, “and we feel that if this state of affairs is allowed to continue we shall be in the same position as after the last war.’’

A member of the council. Mr S. J. Tisdall, said that a factor to be considered was the ammunition supplies. "Till the Government decides to increase supplies to farmers and others,” he said, “the problem will remain.”