RABBIT CONTROL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26704, 25 February 1948, Page 2

RABBIT CONTROL

Sir, —In reply to “ Look On’s " letter, my opinion is that the Tokarahi Rabbit Board aims at a large bank balance regardless of the way it exploits the rabbiter. Trappers work between 12 and 14 hours a day on an average, but this is not the worst fact—the board collects 25 per cent, of his weekly earnings, and the Government its share in wages tax, to total 32J per cent., and he gets what is left. It appears'that the Tokarahi Board is trying to force its employees in a gentle way to work a seven-day week, the Lord’s Day included. How would any of the farmer members of this board like to forfeit 32i per cent, of their gross earnings? If this board cannot build up a fund on its rates, which I believe are 4d per acre, and the Government subsidy which it gets, there is something very, far wrong somewhere. As long as these men s union neglects their interests, “ Long live the bunny.”—l am, etc., Tokarahi.

Sir,—l read with interest “ Look On’s letter dated February 12 regarding rabbit pest. He states that the worker engaged killing rabbits on the Tokarahi Rabbit Board gets 75 per cent, on all rabbits caught, but he omits Is 6d in the £ nogear allowance. The trapper has to supply horse, dogs and traps—if he can get them. But that is not all. The trapper has to work 12 to 14 hours per day, five days and a-half per week, but has been asked to work seven days per week, longer hours and a bigger tally, to built up the Rabbit Board’s fund. 1 understand that the farmer pays 4d per acre and there is a good subsidy from the Government to help the trapper to clean up the rabbits but the Tokarahi Board in my opinion aims at a large banking account at the cost of tne worker. Are we to be protected or are we going back to the Stone Ages where the slaves used to work seven days a week and around the clock?—l am, etc., Fair Play.