WAR EMINENT!

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13174, 5 February 1936, Page 4

WAR EMINENT!

RABBIT SCOURGE MUST GO. FARMERS MAKE FIRST STEP. Mr Brer Rabbit and his countless brothers and sitters, sweethearts and wives in the district of Makuri, Pori and Kaitawa have been sentenced to death and within a little while this district should see the formation of a Rabbit Board, tor a representative meeting of property owners in these districts met in Pahiatua yesterday afternoon to discuss plans for dealing with the rabbit pest, and the outcome was the formation of a committee which will commence work immediately to further these plans. Air A. H. Ahrens, of Kaitawa. was voted to the chair, and he briefly outlined the purpose of the meeting, saying he hoped that the 1 armors present would come to some decision that day in order to move quickly in the matter. Air F. W. Sutton, Permanent District Inspector for the Stock Section of the Department of Agriculture, AVellington. Air Kinghorn. Stock Inspector at Dannevirke, . and Afr Jaine, Inspector at \\ oouville. attended to give advice on various matters involving procedure. It was explained to the meeting that the destruction of rabbits could be done by two methods—the I urination of a Rabbit Association or the establishment of a Board. A Hi ard could he established where there were at least ten ratepayers with a minimum acreage oi lit 000. A Board would, perhaps be the test in the long run as it had more power, and all rates that were collected carried a 50-50 Government subsidy. DECISIVE ACTION. After a fairly long discussion it was decided that the meeting was n favour of forming a Rabbit Board embracing the lands in Alakuri and Kaitawa ridings an I portions oi the Pori district. The following committee was set up to formulate plans fora plebiscite of the landowners in the territory set out. anci to obtain lhe necessary signatures agreeing to the formation of the Board:—Alessrs J. R. Nelson (chairman) and T. Waring (Porii. J. Tylee and lleckler (Alakuri). anci A. H. Ahrens and E. Whitcomb. Kaitawa I. Air Alirc-n s undertook to act as lion, secretary. Mr Sutton eoiigraciliated the meeting en agiceing as to the formation of a Board, which would better •• rve the interests of those with ral-bir infested lands. 'file Departure c of Agriculture did not have* enough stock inspectors to uudertak. the work itself, and lor this reason favoured the establishment ot F aids which had done good work in other rabbit stricken areas. In scum* cases Boards had ceased to strike rates, although they continued to exj~t hut in the event of an increase in rahbits they were able to str ke such rates as were rendered necessary Air Sutton explained that there were three forms of rating— i On an acreage basis; (2) On a -t< k c arrying scale; or (3) On the* capital value of the* property. The* ac-r.-age system was perhaps best -nit. • and the speaker was pleased to *-.-.. the meeting favoured this method. He pointed out that it might he desirable r.t some* future time to It i g in an additional area, and proviso wa s made in tin Act whereby such lands coin'd lie included. Even if the owners ot the*', lands every against this they could be foreeel to join in he added: and said th it proves • n was made in another way to per:** - the exclusion el lands that were from rabbits. such action being granted only altera ptt.tion ha i en hdtreel n*om the owners in <|i:e~t:oii. Any unoccupied Crown lands (on which 110 rates are payable) y I eh happened 10 lx* in the Board - irea would he the direct respensihi ■ ity of the Department eoicernel. who would set* that the destruction yvas carried out therein.