NO ENCOURAGEMENT TO BE GIVEN RABBIT ‘FARMING’

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 September 1949, Page 6

NO ENCOURAGEMENT TO BE GIVEN RABBIT ‘FARMING’

WELLINGTON, This Day (P.A.). —lt had- been suggested that the abolition of the present 20 per cent, levy on rabbitskins, combined with the appreciated market value of skins brought about by the devaluation of sterling would encourage a greater concentration of rabbiters on extermination work, with a resultant reduced rabbit population, said the Minister of Agriculture, Mr E. C. Cullen, today. Unfortunately, i this would not bring about any permanent progress towards the comfplete control of the rabbit pest m I New Zealand. It had been shown over the years 'that while the commercial value of rabbitskins dominated the business, those seeking this avenue of employment were not genuinely interested 'in the control of the pest. They concentrated their efforts during the late autumn and winter months, when skin quality was high, and earned high prices. They then accepted other forms of employment during the spring and summer months when the skins were of low value. This simply allowed the rabbit to breed up again for a further attack the follow- , ing winter. “This policy is a form of rabbit I farming, which perpetuates the pest” i said Mr Cullen. “During the period I from 1943 to 1947 the emergency I regulations provided for the establishment of a rabbitskins' equalisation , fund, the object of which was to make a levy on rabbitskins during the period of high prices, the funds to be used for the payment of a subsidy on low-value “milky does” and “smalls,” thus encouraging all the year round destruction of the pest. This resulted in a certain amount of continuous work but little real progress was made. This was confirmed by the fact that the number of skins sent into the sales fell right away during the November- January period. Skins during these five years were bringing up to' 220 d a pound and it was there'fore unlikely that a 25 per cent increase in skin values, resulting from sterling revaluation would have any influence today on rabbiters, when top skins were realising no more than 96d per pound. The ultimate control of the rabbit could be properly affected only through rabbit boards and the Rabbit Destruction Council was determined’ that commercial considerations must not be allowed to interfere with the attainment of its objective. This : policy had his'endorsement, said the Miniver, who added that during the past 18 months an additional 5,000,000 acres had come under board control.