MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3309, 1 April 1926, Page 13

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD

The .monthly,. meeting of tuo.Mana watu Rabbit' Board was held in theHarbour Board’s office, Foxton, on Tuesday afternoon, presided over by Mr. B. ,G. Gower (chairman); also present, Messrs. W. B. Barber, T. A ■Grammar, J. F. McKelvic, R, Boswell, B. Fleming, F. C. Raikos, J Glpyn and the inspector, Mr. B. R Barron, and secretary, Mr. R. Rang! heuea, Correspondence From Foxton Beach Improvement Committee advising that the Tangimoana Society had been asked to co-op-erate in the matter of excluding the two beach townships from the Manawatu Rabbit Bistrlct. It was pointed out that the area asked to bo excluded at Foxton was about 500 acres and about 300 acres at Tangimoana. 1 Mr Barber said it would be unfair to adjoining land-holders to exclude those areas from the operations of th« Board. Mr. Fleming said that the Harbour Board at Foxton and Government ai Tangimoana would be responsible foi the payment of rates on unoccupied land at the localities. The secretary said ho had no difficulty in collecting the rate from the Foxton occupiers of seclons as it was included in the Harhour Board notices, but difficulty would be experienced at Tangimoana as he did not have a list of occupiers. The total sum to be collected' from both would be about £l2 per annum.

The chairman said he was unaware when a motion was passed to exempt the seaside settlements that so largo an area of land was involved. These places could be excluded from the Board’s district if and when they became townships or boroughs. As the localities still harboured rabbits they would have to bo dealt with as in other parts of the district. The Board unanimously approved a motion to rescind a previous resolution to exclude the Manawatu and Tangimoana seaside settlements from the Rabbit Board district, and the secretary was instructed to so advise the committees in the respective settle, ments.

It was decided to contribute £2 Os Gd towards defraying cost of conference expenses. Mr. Raikea, who, together with ,the chairman, represented the Board at the recent conference, tabled the remits and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. The chairman stated that Mr. Raikes had been elected a mem'ber of the conference executive. Mr. Raikes submitted. the proposed constitution and rules to govern the Rabbit Boards’ Association. —It was resolved to defer discussion of same until next meeting.

Accounts amounting to £73 14s 8d were passed for payment. Inspector's Report.

During the past month X have been engaged in following up with personal inspection the general poisoning advised last month. In the great majority of cases poisoning is now completed; except on some properties, for which the material is hot yet available for carrying out strychnine poisoning. The most successful poisoning has been with stryci-.iined carrots, , phosphorised pollard not being very successful this season, except in a few isolated cases, these exceptions being on the “cover" country. On a certain number of properties at present trapping at burrows and consequent filling in is being carried out with /beneficial results, and provided this work is carried out systematically on certain country, and trappers are paid for the work, good results must accrue,

Owing to the continued dry weather experienced breeding has been going ■on apace, much more than is general at this time of the year, and I would impress upon farmers the necessity flor following up this last poisoning with consistent work, in order to put a check on the increased breeding 'which has taken place.

On country which has been regularly poisoned, and from which trapping has been excluded, the increase in the number of stoats and weasels is very evident, and the destruction of young rabbits by these natural enemies is ot immense benefit to the district, I would recommend that a road poisoning, preferably with strychnined carrots, be put in hand from Himitangl Ito a point below Bainesse. During the coming month I shall be engaged in the general inspection of properties in the Board’s area.