KIWITEA RABBIT BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 10, 9 December 1932, Page 12

KIWITEA RABBIT BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING

The Kiwitea Rabbit Board met at Kimbolton on Tuesday, when there were present Trustees J. W. Batchelar (chairman), W. L. Grice, T. D. AVood, G. E. A. Balmer and A. Lawson.

It was decided that an application be made to the Bank of New Zealand, Kimbolton, for a temporary increase in the limit of overdraft to £750. It was also decided that 10 per cent, be added to all rates in respect of the current year remaining unpaid after January 9,193 d. It was resolved that a supply of pliosphorised poilard be obtained for use in the northern area. It was decided that the Matamata County Council be thnnked for the information supplied relative to the prices of rabbit poisons and that the board agree with the council’s suggestion regarding cheaper poisons and make representations to the Department of Agriculture; also that the board considers it would be a retrograde step to have the control of noxious weeds taken out of the hands of local authorities. Accounts amounting to £176 4s 9d were passed for payment. The debit balance at the bank prior to the meeting was £4OB 11s sd. At the conclusion of the ordinary business the chairman wished the trustees and officials the compliments of the season.

INSPECTORS’ REPORTS.

The inspector for the northern area reported:—“The weather has been dry and as a consequence rabbits are showing up in most places. 1 would like to impress upon all the various settlers the necessity of going after these stray rabbits." 'Whilst the increase is in no way alarming it goes to show that rabbits would soon get up again if allowed to' breed at will. 1 am renewing all the statutory rabbit notices.” The inspector for the southern area reported: “I have been engaged in making personal inspections in connection with both rabbits and noxious weeds. In regard to rabbits, there has been a further light increase practically throughout the area, this increase being much more noticeable on riverbeds, roadlines and other unoccupied reserves than elsewhere, and is to be attributed more to the continued favourable breeding season we have experienced this year. Most of the settlers are doing their best to keep the pest down, but find it.a. very difficult task to do so in a season like the present mainly owing to the fact that the pest will not readily take any kind of poison. Early in the month I put down phosphorised pollard on part of the Oroua riverbed, but the results were practicably negligible. I then experimented with a paste poison on other portions of the riverbed and although a few rabbits took the poison the results wore not sufficiently encouraging to continue with it. However, I am keeping a close watch on conditions and as soon as ever they aic favourable poisoning will be started. I have procured a further supply of carbon bi-sulphide for fumigating burrows, and a supply of pliosphorised pollard for early summer poisoning, a method that should prove successful this year on account of the number of young rabbits that are about. In regard to noxious weeds, these are also making fast growth this year, most varieties seeming to be earlier tha.n usual; this is especially so in regard to foxglove, which is blooming much earlier than usual. I have Bent, out statutory notices to deal with foxglove whore necessary during the past month.”