RABBIT TALK.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 82, 31 December 1907, Page 2

RABBIT TALK.

AN UP-HILL FIGHT. COMMITTEE WORKS WHILE SETTLERS SLUMBER, -At a public meeting- -at Vaituna (tcle T graphs our Feilding correspondent), Mr. J. R. M'Lennan (the secretary), road the. following report:— . - "The rabbit quostion was taken up seriously by the farmers of this district in August, 1905. A committee was formed, and then we influenced other centres to form committees to tako active "measures against the pest. I think seven such were formed, but most of them took little interest in the matter. With the. exception of Kimbolton and ourselves all aro now obsolete. At the end of July of last year we got 801bs. of pollard poison and distributed it to all who would tako it. At that time, also it was decided to make a levy of Is. per 100 -acres on all farmers in our boundary to pay for the expenses of poison, and any other steps that it' was thought .advisable' to use for the destruction of the. ralibit. Circulars Were printed and sent out to 107 persons, of whom 0n1y.,32 'responded and 'paid up. In July of this'year, it was decided that the County Council, the Kimbolton Committee and ourselvos should have a day for poisoning throughout the county. Eighty pound's of pollard >)vas. procured by us in eight tins of lOlbs.' each.' These were sent to the care of separate membors in. different localities for distribution, but tho settlers seemed so indifferent that only a very small,portion wa3, applied .for. This brings.us up to the present day. The .question now. is this: As a committee are we of any use, and is it advantageous to continue as such ?" Mr. M'Lennan also read ' a statement' of receipts-land oxpehditure, from which it appeared that £16 Bs. 6d.' had• been'.collected; -and' £10 3s. 6d.' expended. The report, and, balancesheet were adopted. Mr. S. J. Carman; who resigned the-chairmanship of the committee, was prevailed upon to remain in ofEcb for another term. Mr. M'Lennan', who is leaving for Home next month,' resigned his position a? lion, secretary, and Mr. A..E. Pearce was elected in his,stead. . . ■•-.-•. The , Chairman said that. the Kiwi'ten! County Council supplied poison free, and it was desirable that they should-fix a:day for tho laying of poison all over, the district. Mr, ' Williamson asked if. it was any 'use laying poison at that time of the year, when feed, especially clover, was so plentiful. Ho recognised, that',,in Hawke's Bay, where-tho pastures.were dry, it .might be of somo use.'. Mr. Carman said that Inspector Johnstone was of opinion that rabbits liked a .change of feed, and. that, they would , take ; poison readily, even when green feed was about.. '~. '■Mr. Short said.last' year he.had betterresults from laying poison on a hew burn than' on'ariy other portion of his property, while aniseed had proved to be most attractive. -■'■■■ '•: Mr. Hare- moved "That the : 'settlers Uro prepared to lay poison on a date to .be'arranged between the chairman of'tho. committee'and. tho,Kiwitea County Council.''' .. This was carried. -~-'..]