THE RABBIT PEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25175, 16 March 1943, Page 4

THE RABBIT PEST

Sir,—l read in your issue of March 12 the report of the rabbit meeting held in Dunedin and note the decision that was adopted in favour of the formation of rabbit boards throughout the country. I also read that a meeting of farmers held in Lawrence on the 9th inst. opposed the formation of a rabbit board in this district. As the Lawrence, Waitahuna, and surrounding districts consist of agricultural land, in .which many farms are not affected by rabbits, I consider a rabbit board tax in this district would be very unfair. I venture to say, moreover, that the operations of a rabbit board would be doomed to failure, especially as I notice that at the meeting in Dunedin the rabbiters were opposed to the scheme. I consider that the rabbit problem in this district is the responsibility of every individual farmer, and as long as a farmer thinks he can make money out of rabbits the more will the pest increase. At the Lawrence meeting a suggestion was mads that the farmer should subsidise the rabbiter, and the reply was that he could not afford it. This is utter nonsense while sheep and wool are at their present prices. If’the rabbit problem is so serious as some farmers say I would like to make a suggestion that all farmers be compiled— otherwise only some of them would act in the way I suggest—to make, a declaration whether or not they are prepared to let a genuine rabbiter on their property in winter, when rabbit skins af& at a remunerative price, and to help that man to the extent of destroying cover and even subsidising the Skins. Then whatever body was responsible would know where rabbiters shoulcT be sent, and the farmer who refused to help and failed to destroy his rabbits to the satisfaction of his neighbours and stock inspector should certainly be classed as a rabbit farmer and prosecuted under the Rabbit Act. The more I study the problem the more I am convinced that unless something along the lines I have suggested is done and as long as the farmer gets paid for his rabbits-, - so long will the pest increase, in spite of rabbit boards and Government subsidies. I wish to state here that I am referring only to farm land, as I have had no experience with highcountry runs. As I got rid of the pest on my farm 17 years ago, 1 say deffi nitelv that if the farmers are really serious the pest can be put down. Unless the farmers in this district want a rabbit board tax, which, I understand, can go to Is per acre. I think they should wake no before it is too late, or else they will be botn paying a tax and feeding the rabbits. —I am, etc., Sheep. Not Rabbit. Farmer. Waitahuna, March 13.

Sir —Perhaps some time the Government will drop the rabbit business mm leave rabbiting to the rabbi ter .■ A rabbiter should be a tradesman. The rabbiters to-day are only mugs —new chums who do not know a rabbit 11 om a hare and are satisfied with their levy of 30s a week and skins.—l am. etc ;_ Expert Rabbiter.