TO DEAL WITH THE RABBIT PEST.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 December 1929, Page 6

TO DEAL WITH THE RABBIT PEST.

QUESTION OF MERGING HOROWHENUA IN MANAWATU BOARD AREA

At Thursday's meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board the question of whether the Horowhenua district should bo merged into the Manawatu Board’s area for .the purpose of eliminating bunny was discussed. The Board’s principal objection to such amalgamation was on the question of representation. Mr R. M. R. Findlay (Government Stock Inspector, of Wellington) waited on the Board on behalf of the settlers of the Horowhenua district who met recently at Levin and unanimously decided to form a Rabbit Board to govern the pest in the southern district.

Mr Findlay Avas introduced by the chairman (iMr B. G. GoAver). Mr Findlay said he had been deputed by the meeting held in Levin to attend the next' meeting of the ManaAvatu Rabbit Board and find out if they viewed with favour the amalgamation of the two Boards. Mr D. R. Barron (inspector) reported on attending the Levin conference and outlined the resolutions carried at tho meeting. Mr W. E. Barber asked if the Board had poAver to take the proposed southern area into its district.

Mr Findlay said the new area would comprise 36,000 acres and there would be no difficulty in the matter of taking tho area over. Mr Fleming questioned Avliethcr the Board would bo able to strike a separate rate over the new area in the event of its inclusion in the Manawatu district. This Avould be essential as the Manawatu district had now reached a. point Avhere its expenses Avore decreasing Avhereas the expenses in connection with tho proposed new block would be fairly high to start with. The secretary produced a copy of the Act which showed that an amalgamation Avould be possible together with the striking of a separate rate. Mr Gloyu said the Horowhenua people evidently desired an amalgamation in order to save expenses.

Mr Findlay: That is so. The Government encourages larger areas as it refuses to pay subsidy on areas smaller than 20,000 acres.

Mr Gloyn said he did not think the Government subsidy would last long with the present scarcity of money. Referring to Mr Findlay’s request, he did not think an amalgamation Avas necessary. Tho Avholc thing seemed to resolve 'itself into an extension of the Board’s. district as no board had yet been formed in tho Horowhenua district.

Tho question of representation then arose, the secretary intimating that there Avas a possibility of there being a reduction in number of representatives on tho ManaAvatu Rabbit Board next election. The Act now provided that five representatives Avore sufficient.

Mr Fleming said that there could bo no alteration in representation until next election if an amalgamation took place.

. Mr Barber considered any reduction in representation on the Manawatu Board would be a very retrograde stop. Wide representation was essential co the good working of a Board as each member knew his individual part of the district. It would be a good thing if they could assist the southern district and an amalgamation would bo more economical to them but he fe.'t a rearrangement in representation on the Board would not be satisfactory. If tiie area could bo added to the district without any lessening of the representation at present obtaining on the Board it would be all right. Mr .MeKclvie said there was a preratepayers in- the north and there was a possibility that at an election the south might not be favoured with representation at all.

Mr Findlay said the matter was more one of £. s. d. than representation. If the south was taken over by the Board the revenue would be increased to a large extent and would more than warrant the appointment of a sub inspector.

Mr Cook said he did not think that the Board would show a loss over the amalgamation. Mr Gloyn did not favour the amalgamation. it would injure the Board to have its present representation cot down.

Mr F. C. liaikes said if the Board was satisfied with the present state of affairs there was not sufficient work for the inspector and it would be advisable to take over the southern area and appoint a sub inspector to work under him. If the Board, however, was not satisfied with the state of its district and desired to clean all the rabbits out it would bo a difficult matter.

Mr Gloyn expressed the opinion that the rabbits would never be exterminated and ho matter how clean a district was there was always plenty of work to keep an inspector busy. The chairman questioned , whether the Manawatu district would receive the same attention as it was getting now in the event of an amalgamation. Mr Findlay said the proposed new area was not very badly infested nor was there much Native land in it.

Mr Barber said it would be all right if the representation question could be settled. Mr D. R. Barron said the desire of the meeting at Levin had been to form a Board separate and distinct from Manawatu and to get the latter Board to administer affairs.

The secretary said if the south was compelled to carry on its owm administration the rate would always be high as the district was so small. Mr Raikes said two separate Boards would bo a good idea. It would then be possible for the Manawatu Board to lend its inspector to the southern Board so many days a month. Mr McKelvie said he did not think the southern settlers were aware of the fact that in the event of an amalgamation they would not be able to have representation on- the Manawatu Rabbit Board for two and a half years — until the next election.

It was decided on the motion of the chairman and Mr W. E. Barber to ask

the members of the proposed now board to meet the Manawatu Board at its next mooting to be held on the 19th December, when .the matter will be further discussed.