RABBIT CONTROL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4404, 13 October 1934, Page 2

RABBIT CONTROL.

TWO MONTHS CESSATION URGED. SUGGESTION BEFORE MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD. At Thursday’s meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board, Trustee F. C. Raikes suggested an iunovaI ion which will certainly meet with the full approval of the Board’s ratepayers if not with the Board itself. He proposed that for two months of the year that the Board go into recess, or, as he termed it, “shut up shop.” Quoting from a pamphlet entitled “The Rabbit Pest and its Control,” by D. Munro and R. Wright, principal inspectors of the Live Stock Division, Department of Agriculture, Air Raikes drew the attention of Trustees to the following paragraph : “In eases where a special rabbiting staff is employed on the work of destruction, the question may arise as to how such staff, can he profitably employed during what may he termed the off period*—December to February.” December and January were very busy months for the farmer, said Trustee Raikes, as hay and ensilage making was in full swing and activities were interrupted by the holiday periods. This, in addition to the opinion of the Department’s experts that the period between December and January was an offseason for rabbit eradication work, had suggested to him that it might be a good idea for the Board to consider letting the ratepayers alone during those two months. He realised that the suggestion would meet with objections hut he felt quite convinced jthat the idea was worth a trial. The experts further stated that: “The rabbit pest is not difficult to control and in two or three seasons the pest should practically disappear if proper and concerted action was taken." We have been going for more than three seasons, said Trustee Raikes and we should have reached a stage where at least we. are able to take a two months’ respite. I don’t say that no work should be carried out during that period; let the ratepayers do what work they please insofar as rabbit destruction is concerned without Board interference.

Trustee Raikes further supported his proposal by quoting from the pamphlet as follows: “If satisfactory work has been continued to December the work on rough country may now be suspended in order that any rabbits left may colonise and settled down in the more favoured and accessible spots suitable for the next general poisoning in early autumn when the procedure should! be repeated during the following season.” I think it is most necessary that

the rabbits in the rough country should be given a complete spell, continued Trustee Raikes, and I sure that a trial will convince Board that they will be far better handled by adopting this method.

As far as the office routine is concerned, the inspector can take his annual holiday during the period and possibly a saving could be effected by shutting up shop for two months. Fanners are unable to complv with any of the Board’s requests during this busy season and it does not seem much good giving an order when it is known before hand that it cannot be earned out.

The Inspector (Mr D. R. Barron) : And what about the noxious weeds’?

Trustee H. R. Denize (Stock Inspector) : It is a most critical time as far as noxious weeds are concerned. Most of them seed between December and January and they should either be eradicated by then or prosecutions for failure pending. The Inspector said that very little work was done by the Board in “cover country during the months mentioned under the existimr plan of operation, February being the month for the commencement of wo ilk. l on such areas. He pointed out that the Board had been considering trying out summer poisoning and' this would he impossible if Trustee Raikes suggestion were given effect to. Experience had shown that good results had been obtained with poisoned pollard in the very dry weather. Trustee Raikes: But we do not experience much very dry weathei before the end of January. Trustee Denize said that he took it. that the Boardi was not very active during the months mentioned under the present scheme of opera-

tion- _,. T ~ Trustee Raikes: No. We would do just as much good by shutting up shop for two months. „ The Chairman (Trustee B. G. Gower) said that any man who studied his own interests was always on the look-out for breeding burrows and did not require much

supervision. Trustee T. A. Graqimar expressed the opinion that far better catches of rabbits would result if the >

pest was left alone for a while each year.

Trustee Raikes: Apart from that I am sure the ratepayers would appreciate the concession. Trustee W. E. Barber: There is no doubt about it, it is irksome for a farmer to have to get off his hay stadk and carry out poisoning work. The Chairman: We can’t compel a man to do that. The Inspector explained that at present a good deal of latitude was given in the busy season. Trustee Denize: The suggestion is * not without merit but I would suggest that it be held over for further consideration at next meeting. Trustee Raifees pointed out that if the scheme was adopted the Bo- _

ard would receive more concerted action in February. Trustee Barber: If adopted the Inspector would have to keep a much stricter "* hold on propertyowners prior to the recess period. Trastee Denize: Is much work done in the way of rabbit eradication during these two months now? The Inspector: In clear country no. In “cover” country, yes. Any such work is only earned out under notice from the Board. Trustee Raikes: Well, I have never seen any work carried out " during these two months. Some Rabbit Boards shut up for ' six months of the year. The Inspector: It simply means that the people with the clear land are going to suffer as the rabbits will come out of the “cover” country during the period of recess. After further discussion it was decided to defer action until next meeting to enable members to give the proposal mature thought in the meantime.

PEST WELL UNDER CONTROL.

“I am pleased to assure you that with the exception of a few isolated areas the rabbits are considered! to bo well under control,” said the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. C. E. Macmillan), in a reply received bv the Dominion executive of the Farmers’ Union to a request that officers of the Department of Agriculture be instructed to watch carefully the rabbit pest in their respective districts. “This remark applies particularly to the North Island, where a number of rabbit boards are operating, and very good work has been carried out.

“Last year the- rabbit pest was inclined to increase in some districts. The cause of this was put down, firstly, to the exceptionally mild weather experienced in the breeding season, and, secondly, to many landowners being unable to undertake the cost of rabbiting in view of the low price of wool and farm produce, and the low prices offering for skins. During the past winter, however, there has been a good demand for rabbitskins, with the result that expei-ienced trappers and some of the unemployed have tajkien up every available block of land. The Department of Agriculture has also distributed, a considerable amount of strychnine for poisoning operations, and the result is that the pest is much reduced in numbers.

“The Department is carefully watching the position in each locality, and periodic reports from every district are being furnished to head office.”