Rabbit Farming Opposed

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31982, 8 May 1969, Page 8

Rabbit Farming Opposed

Rabbit farming would undermine the - whole rabbit extermination scheme which was far from completed, said the president of the council of the North Canterbury Pest Destruction Board (Mr R. A. Chaffey) in Christchurch on Tuesday. He was commenting in his annual report on the request of the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) to the Department of Agriculture to provide a full report on all aspects of commercial rabbit farming. “What amazes all of us is that many persons, including Mr Taiboys, could even think, let alone suggest, commercialising the rabbit,” he said. In the last 100 years the depredation of the rabbit and the enormous expense involved in trying to eliminate the pest had cost New Zea-

land many millions of dollars, said Mr Chaffey. “It is only in the last 25 years that any semblance Qf control has been achieved and even now their numbers are increasing in some areas,” he said. Mr Chaffey said that the number of rabbits running about the country at present was not generally realised. The yearly kill of his board on 150,000 acres was still averaging more than 5000 rabbits. “We are virtually sitting on 5000 rabbits and this with a field-staff of five good men. Yet to the casual observer this area appears to be virtually clean,” he said. Mr W. P. Cameron, t member of the Agricultural Pest Destruction Council, who was at yesterday’s meeting, said that the council had recently received a copy of the -Department of Agriculture’s report called for by the Minister. Mr Cameron said the re-

port showed that no evidence had been produced to show the feasibility of establishing a rabbit farming industry in New Zealand. He said that potential export markets for rabbit meat were not evident, and that the establishment of such an industry would not be of much economic benefit to the country. Rather, it would hinder the work of rabbit boards. The report considered there was every justification for opposing rabbit farming in New Zealand, said Mr Cameron. Mr A. Forrester, a member of the old Rabbit Destruction Council, also a guest at the meeting, agreed that there was no room for the establishment of rabbit farming in New Zealand. Earlier, Mr M. Spencer Bower endorsed Mr Chaffey’s alarm at future prospects of commercial rabbit farming. He spoke of an article in the December issue of the English magazin “Field,” which discussed some of ‘he problems associated with such ventures and the headaches caused by the number Of rabbits which had escaped from such farms and ; were now running wild. Tuesday’s meeting adopted several remits which will be presented at the annual conference of the South Island Pest Destruction Boards’ Association which meets in Queenstown in July. The Parnassus board asked the association to continue its efforts to obtain the recommendation of the Agricultural Pest Destruction Council to have wild pigs declared a pest of local importance in areas where boards ask for this. The Waimakariri board sought clarification of authority on the destruction of rabbits kept in captivity as pets; the Waiau board asked that the association press for more vigorous and effective measures to control noxious weeds; the Upper Rakaia board requested that the Agricultural Pest Destruction Council discuss with the Department of Agriculture the inadequacy of the 6 per cent administration charge allowed on claims for expenditure on Crown Lands. The Plains Pest Destruction Board recommended that, in view of the existing lack of uniformity by local bodies in

determining rate penalty dates, the Agricultural Pest Destruction Council investigate the possibility of having the 1967 Rating Act amended to provide that all local body rates fall due on a common date.

The executive of the North Canterbury Pest Destruction Board put in a late remit asking the council to take steps to alter the 1968 Hydatids Act to give concessions to pest destruction boards using large packs of dogs. i The following officers were elected: —president, Mr R. A. Chaffey: vice-president, Mr B. A. Nicholls: committee, Messrs T. Dalton, M. Spencer Bower, P. Le Cren and J. H. Patterson; representative on the executive of the South Island Pest Destruction Boards’ Association, Mr B. A. Nicholls: representative on ♦he Conciliation Council, Mr P. J. Byrne.

Oamaru Accepter.— Lord Ceci: vas incorrectly shown as being n the field for the Welcome handicap at the Oamaru TrotIng Club's winter meeting card m Saturday. This should have ead Luckv Lord, which has 'rawn No. 14 on the limit. Lord 'cell was eliminated.— (P.A.).