Setting Up New Rabbit Board Described

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29336, 15 October 1960, Page 9

Setting Up New Rabbit Board Described

The election of farmers as nominated trustees of the new rabbit boards in the Waimakariri, Plains and Lower Rakaia areas from selected groups of ratepayers who had voted in favour of boards in the poll was explained by the chairman of the Rabbit Destruction Council (Mr G. B. Baker) at Darfield this week.

“When a board 'is formed compulsorily it is the responsibility of the Rabbit Destruction Council to recommend to the Minister the trustees of the board who will act as its members until the next local body elecions,” he said. “The only way to do it is to nominate the trustees from those who recognise the menace of the rabbit.

“If those whb opposed a board were elected trustees they could possibly jeopardise its successful beginning. The Minister. has power under the act to dismiss a board and appoint another go it is just as well to make the best start.”

While five members are to be elected to the board, the board could by resolution add to its number up to a maximum of nine and this was advantageous in widespread areas, such as the new Plains District board which totalled 478,000 acres, Mr Baker said. Representation Provision was being made in legislation at present before the House for a ward system of representation, so that boards could have a maximum of one member in each of nine wards or three in three wards. “The first , step in forming the board is to appoint your secretary and a foreman, buy a vehicle and then look very carefully before selecting the siting of houses and deciding on the number of men required,” he said. "Once you have decided on the rate to be struck you can get an advance of 60 per cent of the subsidy payable on the rate immediately and in the first year

a bank' overdraft of up to 75 per cent of the total income can be arranged." The majority of the boards in New Zealand struck a differen-

tial rate and while “it was not easy to strike it was the most just,” Mr Baker said.

“You’ll have a headache initially and you won’t be able to please everybody but if you keep to a straight line it will work out,” was his advice to the new board members. There were three bases of rating by rabbit -boards—acreage, carrying capacity, and capital value—and of these the acreage basis was the most commonly used. Four Factors Four factors had to be taken into account when Considering the differential rate to be struck. The degree of infestation, the degree of benefit to be gained, the risk of infestation or re-infesta-tion, and the extent to which steps had been taken to control the rabbit infestation by the landowner had to be considered, Mr Baker said.

There was no appeal against a flat rate, except on grounds of financial hardship and on Crown lands, while the Department of Agriculture would meet the full cost, of control on unoccupied land plus 6 per cent, for administration and a similar agreement had. been made by the Forest Service, holders of licences for grazing riverbeds would have to pay the rate struck for that area, he said.

While there might be an Inclination for a board to build up reserves by keeping the rate high in good years as a standby for ~the bad, it was not prudent for a board to have more than a year’s income in reserve, Mr Baker said.

On posts, it could be taken that a rebbtttert wages, materials, and transport worked out at about £lOOO.