RABBIT BOARDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27043, 30 March 1949, Page 6

RABBIT BOARDS

Sir, —Mr Thompson again tries to make a point, that if Mr Baker and Mr McKenzie had an intimate knowledge of the Tuapeka district they would not advise the formation of a rabbit district. For the good of his case he might drop that line of argument. Perhaps their next visit might be in order to make themselves acquainted with the district. I notice he did not mention Mr Miller, who is also a member of the Rabbit Destruction Council, and has a knowledge of the district.

Mr Thompson states the Lammeriaw and Blue Mountains also, as far as the eye could see, were at one time infested with rabbits. That is quite true, and if something is not done about it, it will not be long before they are so again. Mr Thompson infers that most of the proposed district is free of rabbits, except the Tuapeka Mouth area. In my travels I will name two places where I saw more rabbits than I have seen at Tuapeka Mouth. They are Evans Flat and Waitahuna, or close to them. That was before the meeting held in Lawrence. While not agreeing with Mr Thompson on the subject, I will give him credit for having the courage of his convictions. When he speaks of the origin of this affair he may be astray, for when the going got though this gentleman seems to be missing.—l am, etc., Rongahere. Jas. McGovern.

Sir,—Mr James McGovern accuses me of rambling all the way from the town of Lawrence to the city of Moscow. 1 can assure Mr McGovern that if I got no better reception in that city than he got the night he rambled from Rongahere to Lawrence for the purpose of forcing a Rabbit Board on to the ratepayers of that district. I would come back to Lawrence and say no more about it Speaking of the big stick, I think my side were justified when 5 per cent, who believe in worker control of the land were trying to dominate 95 per cent, who believe in private enterprise. Mr McGovern believes the present Government deserves credit for being the first to approach the problem in a realistic way: was it not the good legislation of previous governments, together with the hard work of the farmers themselves that cleared Clydevale, Greenfield, Mount Stuart, and many other districts? Comoare these olaces with Central Otago under Rabbit Board control, with its 40hour week workers, high rates, and catch-the-rabbit themselves policy.—l am, etc., R. C. Read. Lawrence.