RABBIT BOARD CONTROVERSY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 140, 13 May 1930, Page 2

RABBIT BOARD CONTROVERSY.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In answer to "Will O'poso" I trust you will grant me space enough, as I think if some of the farmers were enlightened a little, it would be beneficial to them. I think "Will O'pose" must be either an inspector who does not want to see his job slip from under him or ho is a farmer that does not value his labour much. If the latter, little wonder that our imports exceed our exports. Such men should not be on the land if their time is of no more value than to be chasing rabbits. Rabbiting is a profession, and a professional rabbiter is the greatest asset the farmer has, for the average farmer knows as much about rabbiting as the proverbial ass knows about snipeshooting. We have worked under both methods. Under the inspector method we found that we would nave to revert to the Law Court to force the farmers to destroy their rabbits in the busy times, and we did not wish to make our district a heil like we see in other places, through tho arrogance of an inspector. The Department gave £1 for £1 subsidy to assist the farmer to destroy the rabbits, but the only use some of the boards are making of the subsidy is to put on an inspector to force the farmer to do the work. NoWj sir. you will say that the farmer can do the work in his spare time. Well, I have been farming about thirty-five years and I have never experienced an-- spare time yet; we can make it, but it is at the expense of our farms. I pay, on four hundred acres, one pound thirteen and eight pence (£1 ]3s 8d) in rates, and that is the end of mv obligations, and if we see signs of rabbits, the rabbiter is told and he soon gets them. Now, oould any sane man say lie could do it cheaper by doing his own work, if he values his labour at all? "Will O'pose" says we have no rabbits, but I wonder if an adjacent inspector remembers telling me, when we first formed our boards that I had more rabbits on fifty (50) acres than he had anywhere in his district, and that he would put me up if I did not destroy them as they would be bound to cross back on to his district. Yes, and one hundred and eighty-five (185) was not a bad bag for one day. I am well aware that the Apiti-Pohangina Board had an election and that thev stuck to those of the "Old Brigade," but I can't agree in this case, "where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise." They have never known any other method. He mentions the "Garden of Eden"; undoubtedly his method is out of it; it is quite old enough. True, his method will keep them in check, but we want to go further, finish them up. There is no worse cover in New Zealand than in the eastern Pohangina, and I am certain our rabbiter could do sixty thousand (60,000) acres. That would mean one hundred and twenty thousand (120.000) to two men, thus having the rabbiting done for the same as you are paying one man to order you to do the work. .„ „ „ I will deal with "Will O'pose" on noxious weeds at a later date if he is game.-I am, etc., h _ KmQ^