OPOSSUM BOUNTY

Opunake Times, 11 March 1949, Page 3

OPOSSUM BOUNTY

MINISTER OPPOSED

COUNTY DISCUSSION

Differing in its opinion with that expressed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, through Lie under-secretary, Mr- A. G. Harper, the Egmont County Council, a I Tuesday’s meeting, decided to wnie to the department again re-alfirming its approval of a bounty system on opossum tails of 1/- per tail as Lie most effective means of dealing with this growing menace, and to draw Lie minister’s attention to the fact that (he problem m not confined to the National Park reserve but is becoming serious throughout Taranaki. The minister’s letter stated that, from previous experience the bounty scheme was not the solution, and favoured employment, under strict and expert supervision of skilled trappers on Hues similar to those adopted by Rabbit Boards operating the “kider'’ policy. “I think the minister Is wrong” said the chairman, Cr. W. C. Gieen. A great_ percentage of the opossums is in patches of native bush on farms and in orchards.

Cr. C. R. Stronge said he had heard of crops of swedes destroyed by the pests. “They run cm the main roads like cats” said Cr. G- Saved.

• Supporting the bounty scheme, Cr. R. Cassie said, “Some people suggested that if tlie bounty were paid there would be a lot of “bobbed’ opossums, but no one would try twice to cut the fail of a live opossum.’’ He added that opossums had stripped the apples from every tree in his orchard.

Cr. R. IT. Baylis stated that it appeared that, farmers will be forced individually to trap in order to protect their properties. “If a worthwhile bounty were raid many people working a 40 hour week would trap,” said Cr. Cassie,