FIGHT AGAINST RABBITS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28888, 7 May 1959, Page 16

FIGHT AGAINST RABBITS

Annual Meeting Of S.I. Council

“Should we relax in our efforts towards complete extermination for only a short period, the rabbit pest could soon denude our pastures,” said Mr B. A. Nicholls, president of the North Canterbury Rabbit Board’s Council, at the annual meeting in Christchurch yesterday. “The two and a half million acres between the Hinds and Ashley rivers still uncovered by rabbit boards is a very definite source of re-infestation to adjoining boards and an added expense to ratepayers in those boards.” he said.

The year had been difficult as successive dry years had allowed the pest to breed unhindered, said Mr Nicholls. It was apparent that the rabbits had been kept in check on the flat and undulating country although scattered rabbits had been reported in some areas of tussock country. “However, the winter months should provide ample opportunity to clear out those few infested areas,” said Mr Nicholls.

Opossum Killing

It was hoped that a pilot scheme for opossum destruction would be started as soon as negotiations between the Banks Peninsula Rabbit Board and the Forestry Service had concluded. Mr Nicholls said.

Proposals which envisaged rabbit boards taking over the responsibility for opossum destruction, which were put forward by the Rabbit Destruction Council after they had been agreed to in “broad principle” by the North and South Island Associations, were still being studied by the Government and its advisers, said Mr Nicholls. “These proposals were put forward late in 1957,” he said. Officers elected were:—President, Mr B. A. Nicholls; vicePresjdents, Messrs R. A. Chaffey Harper; representative to South Island Rabbit Board’s Association, Mr B. A. Nicholls; representative on Conciliation Council, Mr P. J. Byrne.

Influenza In Auckland.—lnfluenza in a mild form was sweepAuckland and had reached the proportions of a minor epidemic, said Dr C E Anderson, medical officer ‘ of for the district, yesterday. * \ s ° f the re spiratory type and not the gastric variety.” he said. So far no deaths or seriousi complications from it have been! reported to me.”— (P.A.)