HURUNUI RABBIT BOARD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18183, 20 September 1924, Page 5

HURUNUI RABBIT BOARD.

PETITION TO PARLIAMENT

Another large meeting of farmers was held hi the Hawarden Hall on Thursday evening, and" four delegates were elected to proceed to Wellington to present the petition which has oeen signed bj close' on SO per cent, oi the raiepajers, to Parliament. Mr Alex Cowio «as m the chair. Apologies, were recencd from Messrs li. T. Little and . - itutherford. T , ii,Furtlicr discussion on the Board proposal took place. , Mr N. I>. Campbell was present and criticised the action of tho ratepayers in petitioning lor the abolition of the Board. He enquired from where the information inserted in the petition was obtained and was informed by >ir Heasley that members of the Board had volunteered the information. Mr W. L. Wright explained that the Farmers' Union had not been asked to carry tho matter through, but only to assist in placing the petition before the ratepayers. The expenses the deputation, etc., were being willingly met by the ratepayers. The Board's action in ignoring the several deputations of ratepayers that waited on it was most unreasonable. On one occasion the Board requested' the : deputation to put its protest in writing, stating that it would be forwarded on. Apparently it was still on the way, as nothing further had been -heard of it. It is understood that Dr. Reakes advised the Board that the proposal was one that should be settled by tho Board and ratepayers. This information was not ctven passed on to the ratepayers. Mr Leslie Macfarlane, who strongly j opposed the proposal, regretted it was necessary to tako such steps as were being taken by the ratepayers, but it j was the only course open to them in view of the action of the Board in persisting in "its proposal. The present | fencing was out of date and did not I assist to destroy the rabbit. The Board's J proposal would bring a big hardship on the farmer who fenced liis own property, a« he still would have to contribute to ilio Board's fences. Mr Fisher considered that it -wrvnlcl bo wise if Mr Campbell and the Board delayed any action until after the election. That was the correct thing for them to do. If as stated by Mr Campbell, it would not be necessary to raiso the- rates, it would take a lifetime to carry out the Board's proposal with its present income. Mr Heasley said that.country 10 years ago which was clear of rabbits, was swarming to-day. This showed how much good the Board had done in dealing with the pest. Mr H. 10. Fincham said he understood the Kowai County was absolutely floating with rabbits, and he considered it useless the Board doing anything unless the Kowai County took steps to deal with the pest. He supported tho petition.

Mr Burrows complained that the fence on the lianmer road was in bad repair and required renewing. It had beeu up for years and had had very little attention.

The following were elected to proceed with the petition t:> Wellington by Monday's steamer-.—Messrs Leslie Maofar lane, James Heasley, L. A. Rutherford and W. J. Leach."

A proposal that Mr. Campbell accompany the denotation was unanimously rejected.