RABBIT CONTROL

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25246, 26 July 1947, Page 10

RABBIT CONTROL

BOARDS’ CONFERENCE

PROTECTION OF NATURAL ENEMIES OPPOSED

Since there was negligible bird life except, perhaps, chukor, in the high, back-country of Central Otago, it would be to the advantage of .the farmers in that area if the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry) would sanction the protection of natural enemies of the rabbit, such as hawks, ferrets, stoats, weasels, and wild cats, said Mr J. C. Sanders (Otago), introducing a remit to this effect from his board at the annual meeting of the South Island Rabbit Boards’ Association yesterday. It had been contended by interested parties, he said, that the protection of natural enemies would be inimical to bird life in Central Otago, but this did not hold, since the chukor, of which there were many thousands in the district, were multiplying more rapidly than could be assessed, and were, in any case, too high up to be subject to attack by natural enemies of the rabbit. He considered it unfair that itinerant rabbiters and huntsmen could trap weasels and stoats and sell the skins at prices as high as one pound each, when this practice only served to increase the rabbit population in an already badly-overrun district. Natural enemies effectively and economically reduced the rabbits, ne said, while it was almost impossible to induce rabbiters to cull the districts from which these animals were being taken, since they lay too far off the lines of communication.

• “We have fought for this ever since I have been associated with rabbit boards.” said the president (Mr G. Bath-Baker), “but we are up against sporting ihterests and wild life societies, and even the responsible Minister himself. In Otago, where there is sparse native bird life we might achieve protection for the natural enemies. It would never be acceptable generally, though,” he said, adding that it would not be possible to get protection in areas under rabbit boards’ control. It was agreed by the delegates, of which there were about 30 present, that the remit should be submitted to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry), asking that natural enemies be protected in Central Otago. Importatio?i of Rabbit Traps Permission, had been granted by the Minister of Customs (Mr W. Nash) for certain accredited firms in Christchurch to import English rabbit traps, said Mr A. P. A. Nicholls (Motunau), speaking to a remit from Central Otago which asked that representations be made to the Minister for increased supplies of traps and rabbit netting. Whereas the pre-war cost of traps was 30s a dozen, said Mr Nicholls, the new cost would be about 6s a trap, and in consequence the firms permitted to import traps would be chary of doing so unless they were certain that they could dispose of them. Therefore it would be wise for boards wishing to buy traps to place orders with these firms, and be certain of observing their buying orders Mr Bath-Baker suggested that boards desiring to buy traps should communicate with the Rabbit Boards’ Council, which would see that firms which wished to do so could take out import licences. Alternatively, it was suggested that boards with surplus traps could dispose of them to affiliated boards.

Other remits considered by the association were:—That further investigation into the possibility of the inauguration of an employers’ liability scheme for boards be instituted; that an endeavour be made by the association to foster a scheme for the setting up of a permanent scientific research for means of eradicating the rabbit; and that representations be made to the responsible ammunition company for an approved quality of cartridge for the use of rabbit boards. Officers were elected as follows: president, Mr G. Bath-Baker (South Canteibury); vice-president. Mr L. C Gardiner (Parnassus); executive, Messrs C. D. Matthews (Flaxbourne). J. C. Sanders (Otago), and D. McPherson (Otago); secretary and treasurer, Mr A. H. Goyder (Blenheim) auditor, Mr*A. C. Fell.