OPOSSUM CONTROL

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30768, 4 June 1965, Page 16

OPOSSUM CONTROL

Co-operation Called For (N.Z. Press Association) MASTERTON, June 3. The control of opossums was ineffective, the annual conference of the New Zealand Catchment Authorities’ Association was told in Masterton today and adequate finance from the Government was needed for the efficient eradication of the pest. The conference was discussing a Wairarapa remit calling for co-operation between the association and the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council to ensure an effective means of opossum control was established. Mr D. M. Blithe, of the Wairarapa board, said: “Rabbit boards in this district are not taking effective measures to control opossums and over the last few years damage to trees and farm crops has increased enormously.” Mr Blithe said that in spite of farmers’ efforts, trees planted for soil conservation and rivers control had a low survival rate because of the opossums. He said this represented a waste of public funds, labour, and time. The loss of time could be critical in an erosion control scheme. “If the position is permitted further to deteriorate, planting operations may have to be suspended until effective opossum control is implemented. Local action is of little avail when dealing with a mobile pest such as the opossum or the rabbit.”