RABBIT MENACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25172, 12 March 1943, Page 4

RABBIT MENACE

DESTRUCTION POLICY DECISIONS OF CONFERENCE Methods of dealing with the rabbit Kenace, a problem which has become one of major importance in the South Island, were discussed yesterday at a conference arranged by the executive of the Farmers' Union and the Sheepowners’ Federation In conjunction with the Rabbitskin Committee. The meeting, which was presided over by the president of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Mr D. H. Cockburn, was attended by delegates from Otago, Southland, North Otago, Canterbury, and South Canterbury. There were also present the superintendent of the Government Employment Department, Mr A. J. Ridler, the chairman of the Rabbitskin Committee, Mr R. C. Burgess, and the deputychairman. Mr C. J. Wood; the superintendent of the Live Stock Division, Mr C. V. Dayus: the president of the Sheepowners’ Federation. Mr James Begg; Mr F. N. Binney, associated with the Rabbitskin Committee; and Mr C. Capel, who represented the Minister of Labour, Mr P. C. Webb.

The chairman, who referred to the alarming increase in rabbits in many districts, said that it was imperative that the landowners, rabbiters, and others should confer with a view to making recommendations to the Department of Agriculture before taking any further steps to deal with the problem. A survey of-the position relating to the rabbit population in the various districts was taken. The speakers generally agreed that rabbits were on the increase. It was stated, however, that there had been some improvement in areas' which were controlled by rabbit boards. It was emphasised that employers’ difficulties in combating tire menace had been increased by inability to obtain labour. One speaker said that as a result of an intensified campaign on an area of 300 acres of agricultural land in the Ngapara district 15,000 rabbits had been taken last season. Operation of the Levy Surveying the operation of the levy scheme which was started ast year. Mr Burgess said that the funds collected by the committee in levies amounted to £60,371 Is 9d, and the payments by subsidy, made from the levies, had totalled £54,598 9s. The committee had still to collect £IO,OOO from the Government, and when this was received and further subsidies were paid out it would be found that the funds would just about balance. The expenses amounted to approximately £IOOO. The figures of rabbit skins exported over the period from 1936 to 1942 were given as follows: —1936, 17,000,000; 1937, 12,000,000; 1938, 10,250,000; 1939, 11,200,000: 1940. 10.400,000; 1941, 13,400,000; 1942, 12,000.000. The committee had endeavoured to carry out the regulations. Mr Burgess said, and it thought it had accomplished some good, in spite of the shortage of labour, poison, traps, and cartridges and the very uncertain shipping position, which affected the market for skins. The operation, of the levy and the subsidy hacf made it clear that the commercialisation of the rabbit was antagonistic to the killer policy. Mr Wood said that the committee felt it had kept the rabbiters working profitably at a time when otherwise they would have been unable to carry on. The Killer Policy Scheme In a survev of the rabbit board (long term) killer policy scheme, Mr Dayus quoted the finding of a Royal Commission which had dealt in 1889 with the extermination' of rabbits in Australasia. He said that the commission described the system of compulsory training with professional rabbiters and the payment of State bonuses as ■ bad. Rabbiting parties settled down in thickly-infested country and speedily killed multitudes of rabbits. As soon as the numbers were • greatly thinned, a longer stay was unremunerative No attempt at extermination was made, the operations of the trappers simply driving the rabbits more and more widle'y over the country, and no good was done, except to the, rabbiters themselves, who fattened on a pernicious system. Trapping should be carried out with a view to the extermination Of rabbits and not to profitable employment. In all infested country simultaneous operations for the destruction of rabbits should be made C °The ll facts enunciated by the commis•ion were as true to-day as when they were written, Mr Dayus added, and there was no doubt that the commercialisation of the rabbit over the years was the chief reason for the position of the pest in Otago and Southland to-day. In pursuit of profitable employment the professional took up a block, Probably the same year after year, and, when he thought fit, rabbited it as he liked, and left when ne liked to take up a more remunerative block or to seek other employment for. the spring and summer months. The Department of Agriculture, Mr Dayus added, believed that the best methods of overcoming the obvious difficulties was an extension of the system of rabbit board o control. There were approximately 48 boards in the North Island and 26 in the South Island. Under efficient board control the objection that was levelled against the methods of the professional rabbiter and the rabbit farmer could be overcome. The labour, which was under the control of a competent employing authority, could be properly directed in the systematic application of practical methods, suitable to the area and the season of the year. As an efficient operating board was not interested in the commercialisation of the rabbit, it could carry out intensive spring and summer work, involving, where practicable. extensive fumigation with the destruction of burrows. It was certain, he concluded, that as long as the value of. the skin remained the mam incentive for the destruction of rabbits there could be no real effort for their elimination. The chairman of the Southland Rabbit Boards’ Association , (Mr I. Wills) and the vice-chairman (Mr D. McPherson) spoke of the work that was being done bv the . 15 rabbit boards- in Southland. It* was stated that Southland had found this was the only practical way of eradicating the rabbit pest: High-country Problems ! Messrs N. McGregor (Mount Linton), C. Speight (Ohai), C. Spain (Earnscleugh), W. N. L. Anderson (Tarras), A. Chapman (Kurow), J. S. Adams (Otekaike), and C. J. Inder spoke of the problem as it affected farmers in the high eopilry. It was questioned whether rabbit boards would operate satisfactorily in these areas. It was agreed, however, that there was too great a margin between the prices for winter and summer skins, a suggestion being made by Mr Chapman that, the Government - should take over the control of skins in the winter and * U Mr" Jjmes Begg said that, because of the labour shortage, there was bound to be an increase in the number of rabbits, and the scheme that had been in operation last season had prevented that increase from becoming as large as it might have done. The policy of paying a subsidy however; would never result in the extermination of rabbits, although such a policy was necessary in the summer and pending control of the whole of the country by rabbit boards. If boards were to operate on poor country he added, they would have to be heavily subsidised by the Government, or they would have to devise a cheaper means of destroying rabbits. Long-range Policy Advocated A resolution was moved by Mr Wills that the conference, (a) being of the opinion that the best method of rabbit destruction was per medium of rabbit boards, should advocate a long-range policy under which the South Island should be divided' into contiguous boards, the subsidy to the boards to be increased automatically to allow for the greater \ difficulties of operating on high country and other areas presenting peculiar difficulties; (b) that the ultimate ideal should be to introduce legislation making the formation of. rabbit boards compulsory, and the rabbit board the only seller of the skins or carcasses; and (c) that the conference should recommend the amendment of the Rabbit Nuisance Act to give rabbit boards full and complete power to , deal with the pest. Mr H. G. Pinckney (Waimatuku) seconded the motion. ~ ■ „ An amendment was moved by Mr A. c. McElroy (Bannockburn) that the clause dealing with the compulsory formation ef rabbit boards should be withdrawn. “ Unless something is done, many of the high country runholders will not be able to carry on.” Mr A. C. Cameron said. The carrying capacity of their runs had been badly affected. The evidence before the conference showed that the rabbit population had decreased only where rabbit boards were operating effectively. Mr McGregor said that if the rabbiters were permitted to • work on a contract basis in the high country and the board svstem could be adapted to the needs of the high country, toe rabbit position in New Zealand would be greatly changed in a few year#. The chairman said that the conditions under which the men would be employed would be a matter for the boards.

The amendment was defeated, and the motion was carried by a- large majority, many of toe rabbiters opposing the motion. Abolition of Levy Urged After several further proposals had been considered by the meeting, Mr J. S. Elliot (Middlemach) moved that the conference should approve of the principle of a levy being collected on toe winter skins provided that no levy was collected on skins when the average was less than £6 net per 100, and that the Government subsidised the levy £ for £. the conference being of the opinion that the problem of rabbit extermination was. largely a national one, and that neither the rabbiter nor the farmer should be, asked to bear the full burden of coping with it. Mr Wills seconded the motion. An amendment was moved by Mr Adams that toe Government should be asked to abolish the levy entirely and provide a subsidy from the Consolidated Fund. Mr Anderson seconded the amendment. “If the 20 per cent. levy .is imposed again, some of toe largest rabbiters’ outfits in the South Island will be abandoned,” said Mr L. A. Bloomfield (Hakataramea). The levy, he added, constituted a bigger “ steal ” than that affecting the 15 per cent, increase on the price of wool. The amendment was carried on a show of hands. A motion was carried expressing confidence in the presort Rabbitskin Committee, and complimenting it upon (be manner in which it had operated toe levy scheme during the past season. A recommendation was approved that the Government should be asked to have made available immediately quantities of rabbit netting, poison, ammunition, and traps at cost price The immediate release of all grade II and grade 111 rabbiters who were In New Zealand camps was recommended by the conference, a condition being that they should go to tlie work for which they were released.