RABBIT BOARDS’ CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27112, 7 August 1953, Page 10

RABBIT BOARDS’ CONFERENCE

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Last year had been one of the most vital in the history of rabbit destruction in the South Island because it was. the first year in which the whole weight of more than 100 boards, backed by Government grants recommended by the Rabbit Destruction Council, had made itself properly felt, said the president, Mr W. N. Masefield, in his report to the annual conference of the South Island Rabbit Boards’ Association at Kaikoura yesterday. These efforts, together with the further devaluation of skins and the success of arsenical poisoning which had come into general use, had contributed largely to the success of the association. The prohibition of the export of rabbits as from next year, the use of aeroplanes for poisoning, and the freeing of boards from control of the Local Government Commission Act were further gains made during the last few years, said the president. The conference was opened by the chairman of the Kaikoura County Council (Mr H. J. Hewson) who extended a welcome to delegates. The association now comprises six district councils representing 102 rabbit boards, which is an increase of eight on last year.

Remits were considered during the day and in the evening addresses were given by Major G. F. Yerex, head of the wild life branch of the Internal Affairs Department, and by Mr J. S. Watson, of the animal ecology section of the Department of Scientific and Indwtrial Research.

The conference will be held in Southland in 1954.

The election of officers resulted as follows: president, Mr W. N. Masefield (Marlborough), re-elected; vice-presi-dent, Mr W. J. Whalan (South Can-terbury-North Otago): executive, Messrs N. A. Gardiner (North Canterbury), C. S. Hardy (Southland), J. L. Mathewson (Otago), W. A. Scaife (Central Otago); secretary-treasurer, Mr A. H. Goyder (Burnham). EMPLOYERS’ UNION ELECTS OFFICERS

Appreciation of the services of Mr J. W. Batchelar, Palmerston North, who retired from the office of president after a period of more than 10 years, was recorded at the annual meeing of the New Zealand Rabbit Boards’ Industrial Union of Employers, which was held at Kaikoura yesterday in conjunction with the annual conference of the South Island Rabbit Boards’ Association.

The election of officers resulted as follows: president, Mr C. S. Hardy (Southland); vice-president, Mr G. Reeves (Waikato); executive, Messrs W. .A. Scaife (Central Otago), A. H. Goyder (Marlborough), C. C. Parker (South Canterbury), G. Cammock (Dannevirke), B. McLeod (Feilding) and H. D. Richardson (Kiwitea).