DESTRUCTION OF OPOSSUMS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 8

DESTRUCTION OF OPOSSUMS

Method Of Finance Questioned

Ratepayers were not opposed to the destruction of opossums. It was the principle of raising funds to do the job that was questioned, said Mr R. L. Rutherford, chairman of the Waitohi Rabbit Board, in a statement yesterday. Mr Rutherford was com. menting on remarks made by the denuty-chairman of •he Rabbit Destruction Council <Mr J. D. Shine) at the annual meeting of the North Canterbury Rabbit Boards' Council.

‘‘ln ‘The Press’ of May 4, there is a criticism by Mr Shine, of two remits passed unanimously by the North Canterbury Rabbit Boards’ Council on opossum destruction.” Mr Rutherford said. “I emphasise that ratepayers are not opposed to the destruction of ooossums; it is the principle of raising funds to do the job. that is questioned. “It should be borne in mind that: (1) The liberation. protection, licensing and latterly the payment of a bounty for the destruction of this pest, were solely the responsibility of successive governments: and (2) as the main infestation is centred on Crown controled lands, it ts rightly contended that the people of New Zealand as a whole, and not individual ratepayers, should be asked to subsidise the eradication of this pest. “Mr Shine rightly took the two remits passed by the North Canterbury Rabbit Boards’ Council as a vote of no confidence in the decision of the Rabbit Destruction Council to allow the Government of the day to rush through legislation imposing a £1 for £1 subsidy rate for opossum destruction and the repealing of the bounty system without first fulfilling a solemn promise to all rabbit boards, ‘that before passing legislation a full report of the two pilot schemes to cost the eradication of opossums would be made public. This was not done.

“The present proposal by the Government is to give opossums a three-year holiday when, under present legislation, it will become mandatory for rabbit boards to control opossums irrespective of how the money is raised,” said Mr Rutherford.