RABBIT CONTROL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27389, 15 May 1950, Page 6

RABBIT CONTROL

Sir, —It was pleasing to note that the decision arrived at at the Middlemarch meeting is one step towards rabbit de- , struction, in that it was recommended that these substantial fines be used for destruction of rabbits on such properties, but what was not done was to tell the country where the finance was coming from to finish the job when the money from the fines was used up. Would it be the inspector’s job to summons the owner again when more finance was required? I think it quite in order to ask the mover and seconder of the resolution for that information. As for inspectors. a man might be put on who does not know the first thing about the job, and where is the incentive for him, as the better his success the sooner his job will end? The only way the problem can be handled successfully is by a committee of men who understand the problem in their own district to see that the work is done, the work to be financed by the Government if required, cost to be a charge on such land until paid back, and —most important of all—prohibit landowners of more than, say, 10 acres from receiving any revenue whatever out of the pest, and put as big a price as possible on the rabbit to rabbiters, and f the protection of the natural enemy to clean up the stragglers. Then there would be immediate results, and not many years would lapse before the rabbit would be known only in history. The Labour Government, with their nationalisation policy, showed us exactly the way they intended to handle the problem, by employing all available labour on a 40-hour week job at high rates of pay and heavy increases in both rabbits and taxation. Farmers would very soon get disgusted and disheartened, and their objective gradually becomes easier. Unless the present Government' can put into operation immediately a scheme that shows a big prospect of success before the next election, in the event of Labour being, returned, there will not be much use arguing about devaluation or incentives then. They will most likely say, “ You have had your opportunity and failed; we will do -it our own way,’’ and most farmers know what that way will be,—l am, etc., H. B. McCorkindale. Waitahuna, May 11.