EAST COAST RABBIT BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4157, 7 February 1916, Page 2

EAST COAST RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the East Coast Rabbit Board was held on Saturday morning. Mr E. M. Hutchinson presided, and thei'e were also present: Messrs W. D. Lysnar, W. Ross, T. Holden, W. G. Sherratt, and J. O. Field. Inspector McGill telegraphed that be bad not made out a report for the month, as the Government supervisor, Mr Ross, who had been inspecting the district with him, would be making a full report' at next meeting. Sub-Inspector Mackay’s report on the conditions in Wairoa district, stated that four rabbits had been killed and numerous traces found on the Waikiri block. He had found it necessary to lay i>oison on the Tutaelcuri, where the country was very bad to work, and also to put a man on Clydebank, where already eight rabbits had been killed. Rabbits bad also been found at Ruakituri, near the To Reinga bridge, and .'e had one man working there also. There was a great shortage of men, from various causes, and the position was likely to become serious unless more men could be obtained. Thei'e wore two areas which would require close supervision—the Hangaroa and IT< roheretau countries. Sub-Inspector Bowles, aim of Wairoa, reported that his country was in fair condition. Traces of the pest were being found occasionally, and be had had to put a new man on the Cricklewood side- He Csu remarked on the difficult}' of obtaining men to do the work, a s it was useless to put on inexperienced men who did not know the country. The number of kills reported for ihe months of December and January was: For the Opotiki district 210, and for the Wairoa district 35. The Chairman remarked on the fact that the sub-inspectors appeared to be making their reports to the Board without reference to tho Chief Inspector. It was decided to instruct the subinspectors that a copy of their reports should be forwarded to the Chief Inspector. The Chairman also remarked tiiat Mr Mackay’s report showed rather a disquieting state of affairs. A large number of rabbits were befng caught and they appeared to be on the increase in the Wairoa district. He bad learned that the Ruakituri rabbits were being caught on the Native land. Mr Field suggested that the Chief Inspector, Mr McGill, should give more attention to the Wairoa end. It was decided to ask Mr McGill to attend the next meeting of the Board and como to an arrangement.

The Chairman explained that there was some doubt to the origin of the rabbit reported to have been found on Mr Wallis’ station at Hangaroa. Air Wallis had been told by one of the men previously employed by the Board that there were rabbits on his place, and be bad offered a sovereign for tlie first one caught. A rabbit was later brought in the man saying that it was caught on Wallis’ place, but no traces of the pest could be found. Mr Holden moved that the Board rescind the resolution passed at the last meeting to the effect that an increase of Is per day bo made in the wages of the more' experienced men at the discretion of tlie inspectors. He wished to know on what grounds tho men applied for the rise, and objected to the men dictating to tlie Board. Mr Sherratt seconded the motion. •M r Lysnar thought that tho men had acted quite fairly in the matter, as the price of dog tucker had gone up considerably. In fact, it '' os Almost impossible to obta>n tucker m the Wairoa district. , . Mr Sherratt suggested that a nigher rate be struck for the Wairoa district, to provide higher wages ior the men. At Mr Sherratt’s suggestion, Mr Holden agreed to withdraw his motion for the present, in order to obtain a report from the inspector as to wlncn of the Wairoa people would not supply doe- tucker at reasonable prices.