THE RABBIT PEST

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 237, 19 September 1934, Page 5

THE RABBIT PEST

Control in New Zealand SUCCESS OE STRYCHNINE I hroughout the Doiiunnon the past season was a favourable one climatically tor the breeding and increase of the rabbit pest, nevertheless a very lair measure ol control lias been maintained in practically ail districts (says tile annual report of the Department ol Agriculture) in some areas, mostly back country districts, where rabbits snowed a tendency to increase suitable action lias been taken to have thorough poisoning operations put in hand. (Mule lavourable climatic conditions were largely responsible lor the natural increase of this pest, another factor was the low price ruling for rabbitskins. Further, the financial position ol many larniers has also militated against good work throughout the year, and to assist in this direction every lacihty to obtain assistance through the Unemployment Board was arranged, and mil) availed themselves of this, the recent strong upward trend of prices lor skins and carcases augurs well lor rabbit destruction measures in the coming winter. Strychnine is becoming more and more the principal lethal agent lor the riddance of rabbits, and last .year the department imported f 1,(100 ounces tor

sale to settlers. As a consequence there is a diminishing demand tor phosphorised pollard and oats, b here availed of, the Unemployment Board’s No. 11 scheme was ol considerable assistance in many parts, where settlers combined for the utilisation of rebel labour lor rabbiting. Unfortunately, it is impossible to assess the number of rabbits disposed ol under this scheme, but where properly organised much good work was done. The rabbit boards functioning throughout the Dominion are all doing good work and showing excellent results. They continue to keep the rabbit pest in their respective districts down to a minimum, and, despite the favourable breeding season, have the pest well m hand