MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 23, 26 December 1925, Page 8

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING AT FOXTON,

Tho usual monthly meeting of tho Manawatu Rabbit Board was held at Foxton on Wednesday, being presided over by tho chairman (Mr B. G. Gower). Members also present were Messrs J. I’. McKolvio, W E. Barber, F. C. Raikes, Grammar, Boswell and Gloyn. An apology for absenco was received from Mr Fleming. The Manawatu County Council wrote stating that it had deferred the question of reducing the dog tax on bona fido rabbit dogs.—Received. It was decided to strongly recommend the Manawatu County Council to declare lupin within the county a noxious weed. The inspector was granted a bonus of £8 6s Bd. It was resolved to carry out a further experiment at the expense .of board with cyanide poisoning on Mr Foster’s property at Taikorea. Accounts amounting to £67 17s 5d were passed for payment, The action of the sub-committee in purchasing wire netting for experimental purposes at Taikorea were endorsed. INSPECTOR’S REPORT.

The inspector (Mr Barron) reported as follows: During the past month I have boen engaged in the general inspection of properties in tho board area. At present tho district is in fair condition as regards the rabbit pest, but a number of young rubbits are in evidence and on several portions more attention is required at this important timo pf the year. Owing to the continued winds and dry weather, and tho consequent drying up of pastures in the higher areas where rabbits aro more predominant, poisoning is having the desired offect. In one portion of the district where cyanide fumigation has been in progress, results were not satisfactory and I have carried out an experiment pn a certain area in order to test results. An area of li acres was enclosed with rabbit-proof wire-netting placed in tho ground to a dopth of six inches. The enclosed area was treated with cyanide and out of a total of 208 holes treated, 15, or 7.2 per cent K>f the total, were opened from the inside, within a space of three days. This, I consider, unsatisfactory as special care was taken, more so than would be taken in general work. Tho opened holes havo since been treated with granula cyanide, a dessert-spoonful being placed in each, and the following day some of these had been opened. In other parts of the district highly satisfactory results have obtained in the use of tho oyanido dust. I would strongly advise all farmers in the boan) area to take advantage of the present’ suitable weather, and put all the energy possible into the eradication pf tho pest. If the work of destruction is delayed tho present fair conditions obtaining will cease and any good work previously- done will be nullified, and redoubled efforts will havo to bo made. Owing to insufficient work being done I have had tp send final notices and warnings to several landowners during tho past month, and unless theso notices aro complied with, prosecution will follow.