Pahiatua Rabbit Board

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 114, 17 May 1939, Page 2

Pahiatua Rabbit Board

QUARTERLY MEETING The quarterly meeting of the Pahiatua Rabbit Board was held yesterday in the secretary’s office. There were present Messrs P. A. Bisset (chairman), W. P. Nelson, J. P. Tylee, C. H. Hodgins, E. E. Whitcombe and A. Kinghom (Government representative). The inspector, Mr. J. Steele, was also in attendance and reported on tho work of his rabbiters. Ho expressed the opinion that the back had been broken in the work of extermination of the pest in the board’s district, but pointed out that it required as many rabbiters in tho future to keep the rabbits down. Tho returns of kills were approximately one-quarter of that of last year and tho only parts badly infested were those propei ties immediately adjacent to tho board’s boundary, and. not under tho control of any rabbit board. Tho secretary presented the annual balance-sheet. The year commenced with a debit balance of £lO4 8s 3d and consequently the rates were increased from 2d per acre to 3d. The year ended with a credit balance of £125 13s 6d. After discussion the general opinion was expressed that when tho current year’c rating was considered at the board’s July meeting quite a substantial reduction in rating would bo possible. In these days of low farm returns with increased costs the board desires its ratepayers to realise that, consistent with Us own duties to them so lar as rabbis; destruction is concerned, it nevertheless appreciates a duty to keep the rates down as much as possible. It intends also to go thoroughly into the question of giving relief to those ratepayers whose property is and always has been free from rabbits.