MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 200, 25 July 1931, Page 10

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) FOXTON, July 24.

Tho monthly meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board was held on Thursday aftornoon, presided over by Trustee B. G. Gower.

The Department of Agriculture wrote informing the-board that by Order-in-Council mado o n tho 6th inst., tho protection on ferrets, stoats and weasels had been removed in all areas of land in New Zealand of 10 acres or more in natural forest. The Order-in-Council had been enacted as the result of representations made to the Government from time to time by acclimatisation societies urging that tho protection on these animals bo removed in strictly forest areas in order to facilitate tho conservation of natural bird life in those areas. Tho communication was received, trustees commenting that tho animals did extensive damago to bird life. Tho chairman also expressed the opinion that many of tho forest lands were badly infested with rabbits. The inspector reported as follows: “During the past month I have boon engaged in the general inspection of properties in the board’s area, both in regard to rabbit 3 and noxious weeds, and in following up with inspection tho notices and circulars sent out last month. The weather during the month had been most unfavourable for the work of rabbit destruction, and poisoning especially has been delayed to a very great extent, and the amount of wind experienced had also held- back fumigation work. However, a very fair amount of work has been carried out, but a number of landowners have so far not taken any steps to carry out rabbit destruction, and has been written to requesting that steps bo taken immediately to have tho necessary work completed. 1 would strongly advise farmers to do all in their power at the present time to clean up their properties, more especially where cover exists and where strychnine poisoning is necessary as this is the only suitable time in the whole year when this work can bo carried out. If this is properly carried out it will save an infinite amount of time and expense later in the year. Breeding has gone on all over the district right through tho winter as well as tho late autumn and this exceptional state of affairs will make itself very evident unless every step is taken to destroy tho pest at the present time. The clearing of noxious weeds is being carried out on a number of properties m tho board’s area and a further test on gorse and blackberry will be carried out during the coming week. The rabbiter employed on the Rangitikei riverbed and islands has been considerably delayed owing to the bad poisoning weather experienced and has ceased work in the meantime until the weather becomes more suitable.”—The report was adopted. The receipt of a communication from the stock inspector of the Agricultural Department asking for certain particulars in regard to tho administrative cost of tho board and the amount of wages paid to individual servants of the board created a suspicion in tho minds of trustees that the department contemplated enforcing the ten per cent, reduction which had not been made owing to tho fact that there had been a reorganisation of duties; Trusteo Grammar said that a number of ratepayers were complaining about the board’s action in not reducing tho inspector’s salary by ten per cent, in common with 8 other boards and had hinted that moro would bo heard about tho matter when the next election came along. Tho chairman said that tho position which had arisen was a very awkward one. They had saddled tho inspector with extra duties and could not very well reduce his wages, too. —It was decided to supply the information asked for and take no action in tho matter of a “cut” unless compelled to do 60 by the Government. Trusteo Grant reported that the two foot gorse and blackberry sprayed at Waitohi was apparently quite dead. Trusteo Grammar reported that tho best results at Baincsso had been obtained by cutting the blackberry first and then spraying it. It would not be possible to say how successful tho experiment was. however, until the spring. The inspector said that the Bainesse plots were not vory satisfactory. Ho recommended putting a fire through noxious growths prior to spraying. Trustee Grant said that the blackberry sprayed at Sanson in October and again in December was quite dead. Trustee Gloyn said that sinco the inspector had taken over the control of noxious weeds ragwort had received a considerable check in tho Manawatu and was now well in hand.