DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS

Putaruru Press, Volume XII, Issue 562, 8 March 1934, Page 5

DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS

'i IN EAST WAIKATO Policy of the Board Trapping for Four Months It is the intention of the East Waikato Rabbit Board, upon the motion of Mr. H. A. Lopdell, to carry on with the present scheme of trapping for the next four months, the farmers to carry on with filling all burrows and after that time, if the area is in a uniform state, to possibly take over all the work. This step in the board’s operations is made possible only by the great progress in clearing the land of rabbits. At a meeting of certain ratepayers -of the Rabbit Board in October a committee was formed to meet the board with proposals and two resolutions were passed and conveyed ‘by the deputation to a board meeting in December. The convener, Mr. W. Proctor, offered then to submit a scheme alternative to the board’s project and the scheme and resolutions came before the board at Tues- ■ day’s meeting. The resolutions were:—

- “That the board take over the whole area and strike a flat rate per acre, and that if the members cannot take that responsibility they should resign.” “ That a vote of no-confidence be passed on members of the board who did not attend the protest meeting.” Mr. W. Proctor’s Scheme Mr. Proctor’s scheme, in brief, suggested the division of the area into four blocks, with a camp on each, each with 25 men. These gangs would work from the south. Ah estimate of cost showed that revenue from 150,000 acres at 3d an acre, a subsidy for the same amount arid Unemployment Board subsidy of 15s per week for single men for 12 weeks would total £4650. Expenditure for wages, bisulphide, equipment, inspector, secretary and incidentals would be £BO2 5s less than revenue, leaving that to credit.

“I do not think we should be too severe on these resolutions,” said Mr. J. J. Shine, “ When you commit ■a motion like the former to cold print it looks worse. There is better •feeling •■towards the board than the, resolution reads.” 1

Mr. J. S. Allen said another deputation had waited, on him after that meeting to ask how the board felt. They wanted to call a meeting of satisfied ratepayers. “ I asked them not to.”

Scheme Submitted Mr. Shine said the board could take over without undue cost. His idea was to tell farmers that from August or September the hoard would take over full responsibility for the rabbits in the area and say that it expected they would do their best to work in fumigating in the winter. After the winter the board Sould ask the inspector to gather all information he possibly could regarding the state of the country in blocks. The blocks could be broken up in proportion by relation to the infestation of rabbits. The rabbit question in each would be equal. An experienced man could be put in each block at a salary per week or annum. He could keep that block of country clean and his continued employment would depend upon the • success of his work; That scheme is quite possible with a rate of 2d, but a little more inight be struck. A block of land of 10,000 acres with 70 farmers at present represents 70 problems. With one man in'' charge this would represent one problem and he would solve it. or get out. In this scheme the office expenses would be small. All the board would have to do would be to collect rates. The question prosecution would disappear. It would be possible to have a foreman-inspector to do practically all the secretarial work. Office work would he cut in half. Questions Several questions were answered by Mr. Shine, who contended that the scheme would make an inspector of every farmer. The officer would be watched like a hawk. Mr. R. Carruth: If we can take over at 2d an acre let us do so. You have a promise from a taan in the Okoroire ward to clean up 30,000 acres for £s* 5s a week. If you are satisfied let him go ahead. Other men will be ready to go on to other blocks in that way when cleaned up more. Mr. Shine: One of the great things about the board taking over is that

when the farmer does the work it costs him 100 per cent., but if the board does it it costs him 50 per cent, on account of the subsidy. This is a way we can help him.

“ There is one thing I do not like about Mr. Shine’s proposal,” argued Mr. W. J. Baldwin. “He suggests we take over in August or September. If we have got to take over, do so at the beginning of winter. In ithe winter the rabbits are not breeding.” ' '

Mr. Shine: About 80 per cent, of the farmers would turn out to fumigate in the slack time.

Mr. Baldwin: We will have 40-per cent, of the farmers not doing so; the same as we have trouble always with.

Mr. Lopdell: About 90 per cent, would not.

Mr. Shine: Yoii would have powers to make them work under the Act. Tell them to do the job because the board would take if over from them aftei- the winter. It will do more than a threat of prosecution. If Mr. Baldwin takes the gloomy side of things we will never progress. Mr. Lopdell’s Scheme A very optimistic view was taken by Mr. Lopdell. “ Let us hang on with the present scheme,” he stated. ‘“We -have been getting ahead of the rabbits at the very worst season. If we carry on for three months we will have no rabbits at all. In September we might then put a rate on and take over the whole district. If we can get ahead of the rabbits in the breeding season we can gallop ahead in the winter.” Mr. Shine: Your scheme and my scheme are only different in that you are indefinite and I am definite as to taking over.

Members referred to the fact that with the scheme being carried on over winter the work for trappers would decrease and . some could be put off. The same would apply to the carbon bisulphide question when, if such was the case, Ihfe work was taken over by the board after the winter. Mr. Lopdell declared that the area would eventually be covered by four trappers. Motion and Amendment A resolution was eventually proposed by Mr. Lopdell on the lines of the text mentioned previously, stressing the “if possible ” clause. Mr. Carruth supported this. Mr. Shine then’ put an amendment and a motion before the meeting They were respectively : “ That during the next four months the present scheme be kept to and that the board as from August 1 definitely takes over the total responsibility of rabbit.destruction in its area”; and “that a notice be sent out immediately to all ratepayers notifying them Of the board’s scheme and referring to the fumigation of burrows.”

The main point of difference from the motion of Mr. Lopdell -and Mr. Shine’s amendment was the use of the word “ definitely ” in the latter as opposed to “if possible ” in the former. After lengthy -discussion by both movers on their proposals, Mr. W. D. L. MacDonald seconded Mr. Shine’s amendment.

The voting was Messrs. Shine, MacDonald and Baldwin in the affirmative, and Messrs. Carruth, Lopdell and / Allen against it. .The chairman (Mr. Allen) gave his casting vote against the amendment. Mr. Lopdell’s motion was then carried, Messrs. Lopdell, Carruth, Baldwin and Allen, voting for, and Messrs. Shine and MacDonald against. Mr. Shine’s motipn concerning circulars was also carried. Replies to Deputation It was decided to inform ,Mt. Proctor that when a petition signed by a majority of the ratepayers was secured the board would resign at once. \

The resolution concerning nonattendance aV the protest ’ meeting would be replied to, stating that board members had not' been invited by letter to attend. .