OPOSSUM FUR

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 219, 12 June 1930, Page 13

OPOSSUM FUR

Trappers Leave Blocks

DROP IN PRICES Water Board Concerned 1 Since the acquisition of the Akatarawa block by the City and Suburban Water Board, the price of opossum skins has become of some moment to the board and those it represents. A discussion on block leases at the board meeting yesterday indicated a slump in the price of opossum skins in New Zealand.

Before considering the tenders received for trapping opossums on the lands controlled by the board, a report was presented, Indicating that prices for skins had receded, and some of the tenders were not as high as they were last year, when better prices prevailed. v , Mr. P. Robertson (Upper Hutt), who keeps in touch with these matters, said that skins that were bringing about 15/- last year had gone down to 6/-, and as a consequence it would not pay the trappers to work some of the blocks on last year’s tendered prices. It was true that the blocks had been leased for two years, but some of the men could not work at a loss. “Suppose, instead of going down to 6/- the price had gone up to 25/-, they would have been in a much better position,” said Mr. W. Dyer (Hutt County). Leases Thrown Up.

Mr. Robertson said that when prices went down some leases were thrown back upon the board, and fresh tenders had to be called. Some trappers were fulfilling their obligations. Mr. Dyer thought that to allow men to repudiate their leases was unfair to those who were keeping faith. “When the two years’ lease was decided upon,” said Mr. C. D. Morpeth, “it was because of the desire to give the men a proprietary interest, and so that they would a’ct as rangers and stop poaching.” Mr. Robertson said the board would have to deal with the matter in a spirit of reasonableness. The city engineer (Mr. G. A. Hart) mentioned a man who had tendered £l3 per annum for two years’ lease of a block. He was throwing it down—he could not go on. So far as the interests of the. board were concerned, it did not seem fair or just that a man should repudiate his lease. “He ought to be excluded from tendering,” said the chairman (Mr. M. F. Luckie). “His liability was the difference between his tender and what we now have to accept on a new tender. We have had to advertise, too. They are liable as to damages if they have anything.” Mr. A. N. Perhan (Forestry Officer) said that in only two instances out of eight were the tenders lower than last yearMr. Hart said that tenders should be called for one year only. /‘That’s all we’re going to do,” said the chairman, "otherwise they would get In for two years on a low price, and we would get ‘scooped’ if prices went up.” Subject to the approval of the City Council, the following tenders were accepted:— '

Block 12.—Osborne and White £3l («anie amount as last year). Block 18.—Held over. Block 19.—Jonassen and Hewson £27 12/0 (not let last year). . Block 22.—Wright £2l (£2l/10/- last year). Block 24.—Fraser £2l/10/- (£2O last 7e ßloek 25—Harris £4/10/- (£4 last year). Block 15.—N0 tender received.

In regard to Block 18, for which a £5 tender was received, it was stated by Mr. Perhan that 1080 skins were taken off the block last year, and It had been practically trapped out. Messrs. Robertson and Perhan were reappointed a committee to arrange minor matters regarding leases with the trappers.