HURUNUI RABBIT BOARD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18015, 6 March 1924, Page 3

HURUNUI RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Hnrunm Rabbit Board Trustees was held at the "\\ a i para, County tk>uncil Chambers, "W aikari, on Friday. Present:—Messrs T. C. Robinson (in the chair), AY. W. Meßae, H. T. Littlo, W. J. McMillan, and J. Munro. Mr N. D. Campbell, iho Chief Inspector, and the Secretary wcre also present. An apology of absence was received from Mr G. O. Rutherford.

I.lie reports of the three inspectors lor the month wero considered. Some excellent work had been done, and good results obtained on a large number of properties. Thero were still some owners who would require constant watching, and several of these had been put under notice.

The question of arranging a systematic poisoning of 'the whole of the district was considered, and it was arranged that notices be sent out by tho Inspector early in April for the. purpose of getting a good kill before the winter.

Two applicants for tho position of j rabbiter recently advertised are to be | requested to communicato with tho Inspector. A deputation front the Medbnry district, comprising the following ratepayers. waited on the Board :• —Messrs Heaslov, Rollo, Pi nob am. Alex. I>alzell, P. Butler, F. Power, and J. Quiglev. Messrs Heaslev and Rollo addressed the Trustees, asking to be allowed to form a small Committee in. their district to deal with, the rabbits between the Horsley Down, Burke's old fence and the Huruntii river, comprising approximately 20,000 acres. They pointed out that tho occupiers of this land were mostly small farmers, and they felt that if they were given a free hand in regard to methods to be adopted they would be tiblo successfully to cope with the pest. Tho chairman informed the deputation that the Trustees were very pleased to meet them, but the Board was not in favour of trapping rabbits. They wished, however, to foster the idea of small committees in various parts of the district for the purpose of assisting the Inspectors in the destruction of the pest. The deputation then temporarily retired. A discussion ensued, and it was pointed out that if trapping was to be allowed the time should be limited. The months of September, October and November were the ones in which the carcase and skin were not valuable, and if the members of the deputation wore earnest in their representations they would have ail opportunity of demonstrating during these months the success or otherwise of trapping. It was finally resolved that the Board approve r i of an Executive Committee being formed in the area between the Horsley Down fence, Burke's old fence and tho Hurunui river, to supervise and co-operate with the Inspector in the destruction of the rabbits in this portion of the district; tho Board to supply an Inspector who will be in. the employ of the Board, and responsible to it through the Committee, whose recommendations to the Board in respect to defaulters in the area shall he acted upon immediately. Poisoning and other means of reducing the pest, except trapping, shall be carried out until September Ist, 1924. From that date traps may he used, until November 30tli, 1924. The deputation then returned , and the secretary read to them the motion which had been passed. Mr Rollo informed the Trustees that they would have nothing to do with the proposal, .as they wished to have a free hand in regard to the trapping. A deputation consisting of the following ratepayers then waited on the Board : —Messrs W. L. "Wright, E. Earl, J. Heasley, W. Leecli, J. Quigley, Blakely, J. Rollo, J. Baxter, F. [Dai-Til, and Alex. Cowie.

Mr Wright, who introduced the deputation, stated that a 'very repreBentative meeting had been held in Hawarden recently, and a motion was passed objecting to the erection of the 30 miles of fence in the south-eastern portion of tlvo Board's district, and that if such fence was to be erected they considered -that the cost of same should not lie borne by the ratepayers in the district north of the suggested fence.

Mr Baxter said that he considered that the fence was to bo on a very difficult line, and would be very expensive to erect and maintain. .

Mr Blakely asked that the whole matter be held over until such time as the ratepayers had an opportunity of voting on the question. Mr Leech objected to money being spent without a poll being taken on the question. The Cfriafj-mlan replied that 'the Board had not in any way exceeded their authority in what they had undertaken to do, as they had power to rate up to Id per head on sheep, .and provided a loan can be raised it -was estimated that the cost for the next 10 or 3 2 years would not be more than a. total rate of jjd per head on sheep, being id above the raito prior to this year. This rate of ad per head on sheep would cover tho Board's usual expenses, and also provide interest and sinking fund for a period of 10 or 12. years in -which to repay the loan.

The chairman further stated that in any case if tho south-eastern portion of tho district had been formed into a separate Board which erected a fence the Hurunui Rabbit Trustees would have had to pay half the cost of same, as it would be a boundary fence wi,thin the meaning of the Fencing Act.

The Trustees were pleased that the deputation had waited on them. Other objections had been received, therefore the representations of the deputation would be forwarded with tho others, to the proper quarter for attention.