KOWAI RABBIT DESTRUCTION ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18673, 23 April 1926, Page 14

KOWAI RABBIT DESTRUCTION ASSOCIATION.

At a. meeting of the committee of the Kowai Rabbit Destruction Association, there were present: Mtesara I. F. Cro£t (chairman), S. Ashworth, J. D. Wyllie, J. Douds, H. Jamieson, P. J. Lindsay, J. Fleming, J. H. James, G. A. McLean, F. H. Courage, G. Fulton, T. Retallick, J. Munro (mepector), and J. Fitzpatrick (honorary secretary). Mr Munro reported fully on- the condition of the properties in iht North Riding; ma few cases he stated that drastic steps woula have to be taken to abate the nuißance. Members reported 4o the effect that the rabbits in the South Riding had decreased. The chairman complimented the ratepayers on the way in which the peet had been cleared up in the South Kowai river bed. Tho secretary was instructed to write to the Leithfield Domain Board and Mr W. L. Parkinson requesting that stops be taken to eradicate tho pest from reserves occupied by them. ■ A discussion took place on tho r.otice, that was required to be served under the Act, and the delay in conforming with the Act before prosecution could bo taken against property owners for failure to comply with notice from the inspector, to deal with the pest. It was considered that the Act was cumbersome, and should be- amended, so that inspectors on reporting bad cases to their superior officers could receive instructions from the officers named in place of receiving instructions from the Minister as at present. On the motion of Mr Retallick, the following sub-committee was set up, to draft the necessary amendment to the Act and to report to the annual meeting:—Chairman, Mr 1. F. Croft, Messrs Fulton, F. H. Courage, J. Munro, and J. Fitzpatrick.

Several of the members stated that they were of opinion that trapping should be • iib' : '-V under the Rabbit Act and ilao the sale of ferret and cat skins. The annual meeting was fixed for Monday, May 17th, at the County Chambers, Balcairn.