RAVAGES OF RABBITS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18585, 18 December 1923, Page 14

RAVAGES OF RABBITS.

KASTDNISHiNQ FECUNDITY. EFFECT ON DAIRYING. NEW "WAIKATO BOARD. [BX TELEGRAPH. — CORRESPONDENT.] ■y : HAMILTON. Monday. A decision to form a rabbit board was reached by a meeting of settlers in- the Te Pahu-Karamu distrigfc a few days ago. Mr. Finn said that three years ago Mangapiko was infested with rabbits. A rabbit board was formed, and rabbit destruction was carried out in a methodical manner. That district was now practically free from tho pest. Mr. R. Alexander, chief rabbit inspector, said that boards could now be formed in smaller areas than 20,000 acres, and that' a Government subsidy of from Id to 4d an aero was guaranteed. Mr. G. B. Melrose, rabbit inspector, said that trapping was an unsatisfactory means of ridding the land of rabbits. As showing how prolific rabbits were, Mr. Melrose said it was reasonably possible for one pair of rabbits to increase to between 9,000,000 and 10,000,000 in three years, and that a doe might have eight litters ft year, "with an a\erage ot six in a litter. Mr. Newsome, rabbit inspector, said that a farmer he knew of milked only 15 cows on a 100-acr© farm that was infested with rabbits. He got rid of the rabbits, and immediately was able to double his herd. The meeting decided to form a board, and a committee was appointed to define the area.