PROPOSED RABBIT BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 24356, 10 February 1941, Page 7

PROPOSED RABBIT BOARD

To The Editor Sir,—l notice that a few farmers in the Pukerau district are considering the formation of a rabbit board. The department seems to encourage the formation of these boards, and I don’t blame it, as that throws all responsibility for the rabbit pest on to the shoulders of the farmers. Rabbits are not numerous in the Pukerau district, except on one or two farms which have been neglected. If the inspectors paid a little more attention to these farms in the winter and early spring, there would be very few rabbits about. Some farmers who do not know much about rabbits and their habits seem to think that as soon as a rabbit board is formed that is the end of the bunny; but the only difference they will notice will be the rate notices, which will be in the vicinity of 8d an acre. A farmer with 500 acres of land and practically no rabbits will be expected to pay more than 6/- a week to help to pay incompetent rabbiters close on £5 for a 40-hour week’s work. I say incompetent rabbiters, as no experienced rabbiter would waste his time loafing about doing a 40-hour week when he could work twice that number of hours and earn from £lO to £2O a week. No, sir, the formation of a rabbit board does not do away with rabbits, but it will greatly increase our taxation.

According to Mr A. J. Sheat’s letter, dated December 2, and published in your paper, the Woodlands Rabbit Board is not very satisfactory. Mr Sheat states that rabbits are numerous in the district, and that the most active member of the board seems to be the secretary, who still sends out the rate notices. I hope farmers who are likely to be included in the Pukerau rabbit board area will seriously consider the proposal and vote against it at the proper time. If they do not, they will find the board a costly business with no better results.—Yours, etc., FARMER. February 4, 1941.