MOUNT BENGER RABBIT BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20706, 2 May 1929, Page 13

MOUNT BENGER RABBIT BOARD.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —As the members of the Mount Danger Rabbit Board are adhering to their resolution to impose the 4d per acre rate, 1 would submit for your consideration a few facts in confirmation of my letter of April 15. The acreage under the ■ control of this board is approximately 25,000 acres, of which a large portion is freehold property, and the revenue from rates alone will amount to £417. The Act permits of a refund 6t this amount to the ratepayers for work done in connection with the destruction of rabbits on their properties, and this work may include erection of fences, destruction of cover, scrub cutting, etc.—work which incidentally increases considerably the value of the holdings. It may be argued that their own money is being used for this, and no objection could be raised if the matter ended there. Unquestionably every penny of the rates will be refunded' in rebates. But there still remains the Government subsidy (£1 for £1 on rates) to be dealt with—a small’ matter of £417. The board inspector’s salary (£80) and the secretary’s salary and office expenses (say, £45), will account for £125, leaving a surplus of £192. The board has no paid trapper. Although the district is under the administration of the Department of Agriculture, the Government is actually pay-ing-through the medium of its subsidy the expenses of a board inspector, paying the administration costs of the board, and presenting it with a cheque of £l9O. Is it any . wonder .'that the 4d rate ; s a popular, one with the board? We are now asked to acquiesce quietly in . the fact that wealthy sheep owners; who, of all classes of the'community, are least in need of assistance, are receiving a yearly-’subsidy; out of general taxation.. Money is scarce,' unemployment is rife, and the financial assistance extended to this favoured community could well be diverted to one of the langisliing industries. of their failcountry—not necessarily to the fruit-, grower. I do not know under what conditions other rabbit boards operate, but consider it is the duty of the Department of Agriculture thoroughly to investigate their operations, so that the abuses which have developed under a system which was inaugurated for the purpose of assisting land owners todeal, by means of co-oper-ated action, with a pest. which has. how Become'an asset, may be entirely-removed.’ I have stated the case as fairly "as. I can with the material at my disposal, and if I am wrong in any particular will be pleased to stand correction at the hands, of the board.—l am, etc.. Smallholder. April 30.