B.—4a,

Item —Gore, £420. 1073. The operations carried on on this area resulted in a loss of £475 for 1930-31. The operations are still being continued, although it is estimated that a small reduction in the expenditure for 1932-33 can be effected. We recommend that the farm be closed at the earliest possible opportunity, as in view of present conditions the continuation of the farming operations at a considerable loss cannot be justified. Saving, 1932-33, £75 ; ultimate saving, £400. Item —Lincoln Pure Seed Station, £545. 1074. We recommend a reduction under this item of £100. Saving, £100. Item,—Marton, £695. 1075. This area is specially devoted to grassland research and investigation, and is an offshoot of the Plant Research Station at Palmerston North. We suggest that the whole of the work necessary be carried out at the Plant Research Station, and we recommend the dosing of the Marton area and the disposal of the property. The operations for 1930-31 resulted in a loss of £1,105. It will take some time to terminate the operations, but a saving of £350 should be possible for 1932-33. Saving, 1932-33, £350 ; ultimate saving, £1,000. Item—Puwera, £650. 1076. The farming operations on the Puwera area resulted in a loss of £701 for 1930-31. The property has now been closed and a saving of £450 should be possible for 1932-33. Saving for 1932-33, £450 ; ultimate saving, £650. Item—Waimaunga, £300. 1077. The farming operations resulted in a loss of £878 for 1930-31. The farm has now been closed, and no running-costs need be provided for 1932-33. Saving, £300. Item —Extension of Instructional Work, Rural Activities, including Boys' and Girls' Clubs, £1,150. 1078. The subsidy of £600 provided for boys' and girls' clubs has been abolished. The remaining expenditure is in connection with the instructional work, which should be reduced to a minimum. Allowing for the abolition of the subsidy of £600, a total saving of £900 on this item should be arranged. Saving, £900. Item —Ironstone Country, Bay of Islands, Experimental work on, £50. 1079. This item should be reduced to £20. Saving, £30. Item—Nev> Zealand Hemp Industry: Grading, £40. 1080. This item should be discontinued. Saving, £40. Item—Travelling Allowances and Expenses, £5,650. 1081. A considerable saving in travelling allowances and expenses in this Division should result from the curtailment of staff. We recommend a reduction in this item to £4,000 for 1932-33. Saving, £1,650. Subdivision VI. —Miscellaneous Services. Item—Destruction of Rabbits and Subsidies to Rabbit Boards, £13,000. 1082. Large sums have been expended in the past in an endeavour to cope with the rabbit nuisance in the Dominion, but it appears that the annual expenditure is merely a palliative and that the pest cannot be controlled under the present system. The co-operation of landowners is a necessity, and until this is forthcoming and the burden is shouldered by those whose responsibility it undoubtedly is the continued expenditure of large sums of public money does not seem to be justified. The total expenditure of the Department under all headings on the control and destruction of rabbits approximates from £35,000 to £40,000 per annum. This includes the following £ (1) Subsidies to Rabbit Boards .. .. .. .. •• 13,000 (2) Destruction of rabbits on Crown and Native lands .. .. .. 4,500 (3) Administrative expenditure, including inspection work, &c. (approximately) 18,000 1083. The administrative expenditure, as in the case of expenditure on noxious weeds, represents an apportionment of the salaries of officers engaged on field-work. The fact remains that a considerable portion of the time of officers throughout the Dominion is taken up with the control and destruction of rabbits. We consider that the time has arrived when a halt must be called in

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