FRANK DISCUSSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27346, 23 March 1950, Page 8

FRANK DISCUSSION

Value Of “ Killer ” Policy

Condemnation And Support

Special Correspondent

KUROW, Mar. 22. - “I consider that rabbit boards and farmers are being led up the garden path by a band of dangerous visionaries,” said Mr J. S.- Adams, referring to the members of the Rabbit Destruction Council at a meeting here last night when the Kurow Hall was well filled by farmers, rabbiters and rabbit board members who met the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Holyoake, and frankly debated the killer policy. “These men are now trying to sen a wonderful new idea of devaluing the rabbit. As one who has studied the rabbit for 55 years, I can state that this idea is wrong. As long as I can remember, whenever rabbits have been cheap they have always increased, but when they have brought good prices they have decreased. When the Minister of Agriculture wanted more wheat he raised the price in order to get it, and the same should be done with rabbits. Instead of that, a 20 per cent, levy has been imposed on skins to supply money to cover the expenses of these men as they tour around the country.” The way to get nd of rabbits, continued Mr Adams, was to have stock inspectors who knew their job, but for some considerable time such men appeared to have been in cold storage. Rabbit inspectors who in the past had fearlessly prosecuted men who allowed rabbits to get out of hand had earned the respect and support of farmers, and had they continued that policy they would have beaten the rabbit ' . “It is a shame and a disgrace that the authorities allow stoats, ferrets and other natural enemies to be destroyed, for these kill more rabbits than any rabbiters," said Mr Adams. The natural enemies should be rigidly protected. “The killer policy is going to cost a lot of money. Who is going to pay? We are told that an adequate rate is going to be struck, but how much is this adequate rate going to cost the farmer? ” concluded Mr Adams.

“We believe that the killer policy and decommercialisation present the only possible hope of rabbit eradication,” said Mr W. Whalen, chairman of the Buscot Rabbit Board. “We have proved in a little more than a year of operation that the killer method is both sound and workable. Any departure from the present policy would from a national viewpoint be disastrous.” Suggestions had been made by other speakers that the contract or bonus per 100 system of payment should be instituted, and the comparison of con-, tract shearing had beep quoted, said Mr Whalen, but if a shearer knew that by shearing the last sheep he would be doing himself out of a job for the following year, he would not shear that sheep. The same applied to contract rabbiting, which would at least do no more than give very limited control. If a rabbiter were being paid so much per 100 his only worry was the future source of supply. He would make sure that a supply ,was guaranteed. It was very galling to hear criticism of the killer policy when rabbits had been overrunning the country for 60 years, said Mr Parker, of the Mackenzie Rabbit Board. His board controlled 360,000 acres, much of which Was very difficult country. If housing were made available, there would be no trouble in securing an adequate number of workers. During January and February, the Mackenzie Board had killed 35,000 and 45,000 rabbits respectively, and of the latter total, 17,000 had been trapoed by 20 professional rabbiters, while 26,000 had been poisoned by nine men who were new chums to the game. This proved that killer methods could be successfully carried out by unskilled labour, which was available. Several speakers ..questioned the statement that such labour was available. one stating that in six months’ advertising throughout New Zealand only 19 replies had been received and only one new employee obtained. Mr Whalen stated that his board inserted one advertisement in the Daily Times for unskilled labour, and received 200 replies.