THE RABBIT PEST

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4951, 4 February 1937, Page 3

THE RABBIT PEST

EXTERMINATION PROPOSALS AT NGAHINAPOURI. MATTER LEFT IN ABEYANCE. Convened to institute steps to eliminate the rabbit pest a fairly well attended meeting was held in the Ngahinaoouri Hall recently. The meetiiiK, which had been convened by Mr W. J. Coxhead, of Te Rore, was presided over by Mr R. A. Thomas. Opening the meeting Mr G. B. Melrose, the Government stock inspector stationed at Te Awamutu, described the rabbit as an "asset" it was wellito be rid of. The breeding capabilities would have to be considered before the magnitude of the'pt.st could be understood. One pair of rabbits left undisturbed for three years would increase to 9,000,000, allowing for 50 per cent, of casualties. The speaker gave figures to illustrate the prolificacy of the rabbits and stated that -if they were not kept in check the same thing might be seen in the Ngahinapouri district. Showing the depredations of the pest the speaker said that six rabbits would eat as much in a given time as one sheep. Allowing that ten rabbits equalled one sheep it was evident that one pair of rabbits was capable of reducing in three years the stockcarrying capacity of the land to the extent of one million sheep. The formation of a rabbit board, with the increased co-operation, was the only way to subdue the trouble. A good deal of work had been done in this direction in the past and had certainly been worthwhile. The first board formed in the Te Awamutu district was the Hairini Board which was started in 1920. At this time the rabbit was well established in the district and, lacking experience, the board was working in the dark. A rate of Is per acre was struck, and the operations were very successful, showing that the only way to deal with the pest was by co-operative effort. The Mangapiko Board was next formed, and also made great strides, with the result that that area was now very clean. Lack of enthusiasm had been encountered in some instances and it was apparent that a certain amount of legal pressure would have to be brought to bear if results were to be obtained. In many cases farmers were wont to blame their neighbour's rabbits as the chief trouble, but the slogan of a rabbit board was that if a member undertook to clean his own property the board would see that his neighbour did likewise. Money paid on rates to a rabbit board was, in his opinion, most profitably spent. The speaker concluded by reading letters from farmers who, formerly bitter opponents to rabbit boards, now extolled' the organisations' virtue. Mr C. M. Alexander said that at first he had opposed the institution of rabbit boards, but found that with no concerted effort the farmers were spending money and were not achieving satisfactory results. In advising members of the meeting to form a board the speaker said that that move was the surest way of getting rid of the rabbits in the district. Mr G. S. Clarke, another staunch supporter of the scheme, stated that at present he was paying l rates to three boards and considered the money well spent. The Government stock inspector stationed at Hamilton, Mr E. A. McKinlay, instanced experiences in southern parts of the South Island where the lack of concerted control had allowed the Dest to increase greatly. The formation of a board was a step in the right direction. Several questions concerning the operation and administrative costs of a board were answered by Mr Melrose, who replied to one questioner that, no matter what the condition of the country was, he was sure that the rabbits could be eliminated. Wherever boards had been formed he could confidently say that they had been an unqualified success. Expressing complete opposition to the proposal to form a board, Mr D. B. Livingstone stated as his main reason that there were to-day less rabbits in the district than there were 20 years ago. Another matter was that the settlers would have to carefully consider their rates, of which they already had a good number. They might find in the future that the burden of rates was greatly out of proportion to their incomes. There were no Crown or native lands in the district, and if a man did not keep his ragwort and rabbits in check there were means of forcing him to do so. He considered ragwort a greater menace than rabbits and he was entirely opposed to the formation of a board. Opposing the previous .speaker, several members spoke in support of the proposal. After further discussion, it was decided, on the motion of Mr Livingstone, to leave the matter in abeyance and to hold another meeting on Monday of next week..