RABBIT TRAPPERS’ UNION.

Evening Star, Issue 11776, 5 January 1903, Page 4

RABBIT TRAPPERS’ UNION.

A meeting of the Otago and Southland Rabbit Trappers’ Union was bald in the schoolroom, Middiemarch, on Hew Year’s Uve, when there was a large muster of trappers and carters. Mr W. D. Mason uus appointed chairman, and after a few remarks regarding the benefits to bo derived by unity and co-operation, introduced the Dunedin delegates—Mosers W. Hood, R. Breen, and A. Espie. Sir Hood, president of the union, aaid tha,t now that tho union was well established it was necessary to find some means of handling the rabbits on behalf of the members, and to make such arrangements that the men could export their own rabbits to the best markets and receive the profits themselves, instead of disposing of them to the local buyers. Witli that object in vie?/, arrangements had been completed whereby those trappers who mav now send their catches throu.ffi the Association will receive the whole if the profits from the Home markets. Mr Espio, secretory of the union, stated that tie Association would pay the trapper fid per pair fer all rabbits weighing 2!b and upwards as : ; n advance, and 5d per pair for all rabbits I to In 11 up to 21b weight, and 3d per pair for all rejects fit to bo skinned, the money to bs paid weekly, and at the. end of the reason the whole profits on the' return sales to be paid to the banners, lass 5 per cent, for working expenses and cost of shipping. The price.-; realised last season on this principle would give the trappers about 3d per pair as a bonus, in addition to fid per pair paid in advance. Present indications were that the prices would be maintained, owing to tho opening up of new markets in South Africa and elsewhere, and the crowing demand for this food product in Snglan<L Those present unanimously ndonted the Association s scheme, and dmided to hold a meeting on Hew Year’s Day to meet toe trappers who were coming in. from the outlying districts. A successful meeting followed the nest day, when tho delegates expressed their approval of the schema