Farmers Fight Rabbit Board

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30426, 28 April 1964, Page 1

Farmers Fight Rabbit Board

(New Zealand Press Association) TE AROHA, April 27. Two hundred angry farmers formed a seven-man action committee at Te Aroha today to fight the Matamata Rabbit Board’s action in serving distress warrants on seven farmers who refused to pay their rates.

The seven farmers—all in the Te Aroha district—claimed at the meeting there were no rabbits on thetr I properties. i They saw no reason why I they should pay rates to the i board. Farmers from as far afield as Auckland and Taumarunui attended the public meeting which lasted several hours. It was convened by Mr D. J. Burgess, of Te Aroha, one of the farmers who received distress warrants for failing to comply with a court order to pay his rates. The committee elected by the meeting comprises Mr Burgess, Mr R. W. Young (Manawaru), Mr F. L. Phillips (Otorohanga), Mr L. K Northcott (Pokeno). Mr 1. Baker (Owhango), Mr R. 11. Brown (Coromandel), and Mr T. J. Greenless (Waiuku). The meeting unanimously approved a resolution moved by Mr Phillips—who is secretary of the Northern King Country Anti-Rabbit Board Council —which states: “This gathering of farmers objects most strongly to the undemocratic manner in which the Rabbit Act has

I been framed, and is being administered.” i After the meeting, the committee resolved to send a letter to the Matamata Rabbit Board requesting it to withhold any further seizure, and to withhold the sale of goods already seized from defaulting farmers, until the committee has conferred with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture. Copies of the letter will be posted to Mr Holyoake and Mr Taiboys, and they will be 'asked to attend a meeting of farmers in Hamilton in about a month.