PERMITS FOR HARE DRIVES

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29797, 13 April 1962, Page 13

PERMITS FOR HARE DRIVES

Rabbit Board Ban In N. Canterbury

All private shooting parties operating within the area controlled by the Waimakariri Rabbit Board must, in future, obtain a permit from the board's foreman' (Mr G Foster). At a meeting of the board yesterday Mr Foster said rabbits had been scared by persons holding hare drives only a day or two before he tried to carry out a night shoot. Tn the cases where the hare drive parties had proceeded him the rabbits were “very wild” and consequently twice the volume of petrol was used, he said. Shooters would not kill rabbits because they got no return, said Mr Foster.

The board then decided that for each token from a party with a permit, one and a half cartridges would be given. Whether the token is a tail, ears, or some other part of the pelt will be decided later, but it is likely to be the tail.

Members were emphatic that cartridges would only be given to parties that had obtained permits: and were also equally definite that permits must be obtained before a hare drive was conducted so that there would be no conflicts with the board's policy. “The board must have some control over shooting to carry out its policy effectively.” said Mr D Ensor.

Mr Foster agreed with these decisions, saying the parties would take “the little odd pockets of rabbits which at present were only being scared,”

Drilling Resumed.—Drilling work was resumed at Entreves. Italy, yesterday in the Italian section of the Mont Blanc tunnel, four days after three avalanches killed three miners and injured 35 others, the British United Press reported.—Entreves, Italy, April 11.