WAIROA CONCERN OVER INCREASE OF RABBITS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22698, 24 July 1948, Page 6

WAIROA CONCERN OVER INCREASE OF RABBITS

(S.R.) WAIROA, July 23. Serious concern was expressed at yesterday's meeting of Federated Farmers regarding the extermination of rabbits throughout Hawke’s Bay and the East Coast.

In the course of his remarks Mr. A L. McKinnon, president of the local branch of the federation, and also a member of the East Coast Rabbit Board, gave a number of startling figures concerning the increase of the pest and also the cost of eradicating it In 1937, Mr. McKinnon said, tho kills for the East Coast Rabbit Board area, comprising s,ooo,ooo’acres, totalled 125. Last year the number had risen tc the alarming figure of 13.218. The average number of monthly kills prior to the introduction of the poisoning policy was 1300, but these figures, ns a result of poisoning, had increased to 4000 a month.

Increase in Rates

Dealing with rates, Mr. McKinnon stated in 1924 the rate was 12/64d. Last year that amount had been raised to the limit to which the board was allowed to go. The rate now returned 1’13.000, which carried a like amount by way of subsidy from the Government. Thus the present cost of extermination to the East Coast district was 126,000 annually.

Forty-nine rabbiters were employed in the past year and if the board had carried out its intended policy it would hove engaged 130, but this number had to be out down by one-third for the reason that the board was not receiving the money to pay the men.

The speaker criticised the method of destroying rabbits in some areas, claiming that certain persons were only “farming” the animals. Ik- knew of a case where two men who by marketing rabbits had secured as much as £l6 each per day over a nine-day period. This would prove disastrous if such methods were allowed to continue for the reason that only certain blocks were being farmed and not the whole country. Strong Killing Policy Urged

A visit of the destruction council to Wairoa is expected next week, when it is hoped to impress upon members the necessity of introducing a strong killer policy, not only on the East Coast, but in the whole of Hawke’s Bay,” concluded Mr. McKinnon.

Mr A. C. de Latour expressed alarm that Hawke’s Bay contemplated going in for the export of rabbit carcases. "The time is now opportune to take up that question and see if it cannot be blocked,” he said. "Rabbits for export must be trapped and they will never cope with the trade for the reason that there arc insufficient traps available."

Mr, McKinnon: The boards will not recognise that policy and they have authority to stop exports. Mr de Latour: We could make up such 'export by sending more meat overseas and it is n very shoit-sighted policy to allow it to continue.