X.—ls

Table showing Area, Rateable Capital Value, and Population of Catchment Districts already set up Area, Rateable Capital Square Miles. Value. Population. £(m.) Rangitikei .. .. .. .. 2,756 16 26,470 Manawatu .. .. .. .. 2,680 43 75,800 Hawke'sßay .. .. .. .. 3,070 29 57,800 Wairarapa .. .. .. .. 2,230 18 26,230 Poverty Bay .. .. .. .. 2,097 15 31,500 Nelson .. .. .. .. 2,460 10 30,570 Westland .. .. .. .. 6,254 5 26,820 North Canterbury .. .. . . 4,290 57 162,570 South Canterbury .. .. 4,326 29| 61,850 Southland .. .. .. .. 11,000 27 71,830 Hauraki* .. .. 1,500 17 45,000 I. RABBIT DISTRICTS As their name implies, Rabbit Boards owe their existence to the rabbit menace. There are, in 1945, 96f Rabbit Boards scattered over both Islands, although nearly two-thirds are in the North Island. The Rabbit Nuisance Act, 1928, section 30, provides for the formation of Rabbit Boards in areas of not less than 1,000 acres, provided that when the area is less than 20,000 acres there shall be at least three ratepayers involved. For areas of over 20,000 acres there must be at least ten ratepayers. The Department of Agriculture in its evidence stated that since 1928 no new Rabbit Boards with areas less than 20,000 acres have been set upf. Rabbit districts may be instituted after petition by a majority of the ratepayers in the proposed district praying for the formation of a rabbit district, subject to the foregoing provisoes^. Because of the nature of their work, the boundaries of rabbit districts are drawn up without reference to the boundaries of any territorial local authority. The following table shows the areas of Rabbit Boards in the North and South Islands respectively .: — Table showing Areas of Rabbit Districts in the North and South Islands respectively in 1945 Area. North Island. South Island. Total. Under 10,000 acres .. .. .. 4 .. 4-10,000-49,999 .. .. .. ..24 20 44 50,000-99,999 .. .. .. ..11 9 20 100,000-199,999 .. .. .. ..9 7 16 200,000-499,999 .. .. .. ..4 5 9 500,000-999,999 .. .. .. .... Over 1,000,000 .. .. .. ..2 1 3 54 42 96 Area alone, however, does not give a real picture of the work which Rabbit Boards are doing. A better picture is given by a survey of receipts, which in turn shows real activity. The following two tables show total receipts and revenue receipts respectively in 1938-39 and 1941-42 :— Table showing Total Receipts of Rabbit Boards in 1938-39 and 1941-42 || £ 1938-39. 1941-42. Under £100 . . .. .. .. .. 11 10 100- 199 .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 4 200- 299 .. .. .. .. .. ..5 6 300- 399 .. .. .. .. .. ..8 5 400- 499 .. .. .. .. .. ..4 5 500- 749 .. .. .. .. .. ..11 7 750- 999 .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 8 1,000-1,999 .. .. .. .. .. ..17 20 2,000-2,999 .. .. .. .. .. ..5 6 Over 3,000 .. .. .. .. .. ..3 11 71 82 In 1938-39 three Boards, and in 1941-42 two Boards, had under £100 total receipts.

* Not yet set up, but negotiations almost complete, June, 1945. f The Official Year-Book, 1944, states there are 84 Rabbit Boards. The evidence on behalf of the Department of Agriculture shows 96 Boards. The Local Bodies Handbook, 1941-42 (the latest issue), gives statistics for 82 Boards. J For a discussion of the historical development of Rabbit Boards, see page 10. § Rabbit Nuisance Act, 1928, section 30. || Statistics taken from Local Authorities Handbook, which gives details of only eighty-two Rabbit Boards.

2—l. 15

17