RABBIT BOARD

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 72, 20 June 1928, Page 7

RABBIT BOARD

MEETING AT WHANG A. A meeting of the Rabbit Board was bold cm Monday, Messrs N. 11. Clcland (chairmas), W. L. Kennedy, A. Cook and M. Ford being present. Leave of absence was granted to Air A. Murphy. A letter was received from the Acting Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Wellington, in •reply to the. Board's letter of 'the 11th of January last drawing the Department's attention to the invasion of the- VVhangamomona district by rabbit s from the Obnra district. Delay in replying had been caused by waiting for the results of a thorough investigation into the question. It wag arranged that the Principal Inspector for the Auckland Province give it his personal attention. lie. had, therefore, .together with the, local officer of the Department made a thorough joint inspection throughout whole area, and had submitted a detailed report which showed that » very careful inspection the whole area had been made. ±n e main road 'from Ohura ttoough the TangarakqiK was nrobably the most likely route. by which rabbits miaht travel frn m Ohura to Whangamomona, yet it vas a significant facfc that the road eu'-t'aeeman in charge of the length, wno usually had one or two dogs with him has not seen a rabbit there for a year or more. J.n summing up his conclusions tfie Principal Inspector- had remarked.'as follows: "From thn r r - own observations and conversation with settlers I am of the opinion that the danger of rabbit invasion from Ohura to Whangamonona i s much over-estim-ated. At the same tunc I. would not suggest that our vigilance should be. relaxed at this end. There are extensive areas of'excellent sheep country in the Ohura County, and for tho protection of these lands it is essential that no effort be spared to reduce* the pest to the lowest possible minimum, and while the pest is held as at present, I feel satisfied that little or no danger threatens the W'hangamomema district rronl thi s source."

The Board could rest assured thati the officer concerned would be vigilant in dealing with this particular area. Tv ith regard to the resolution embodied 'i n the Board's letter it was incorrect to havo said that '-no. apparent action , i 3 being taken to have tfie rabbits eradicated." The Board was assured that step s ha.d been taken with considerable success throughout the season, and tho district was much frper from the pesti than one would, expert; fn view of theexceedingly favourable breeding season.

Mr Kennedy pointed out that Mi Department admitted the existence of rabbits in Vie Ohura district, and he thought thb matter was being treated ton lightly by The™ Mr Cook expressed the opinion that tho surfaceman's could not b e tba mhs* reliable, np rabbit s ™*h} h P more likely to travel (through d'.V"O the e«rly morning hours or at night, rather than -'••••'• n, O hours when a, surfaceman WOnM ho n l AvnrT; A was carried tluit the Department should be asked for some Rssarnnca +hnf, the Ohur> district is doing at least as much to keep rabbits in cheek as the YVhanga Hoard is doing, and that the points brought forward by Mr Kennedy and Mr Cook be brought to their notice-. A letter wa,g received irom Mr A. Cook, Inspector of Stock, re the price of strychnine in quantities. It wa s resolved that the Board purchase sufficient strychnine for the poisoning of rabbits on properties m the Tangarakau district, and that the rabbi ter be instructed to see that the poison is laid. The rabbiter's reports for the months of March, April aiiu May were received. During March 14 ra"bbits\had been seen, audi 12 killed, April 4 Keen and 4. killed, May 12 seen and 11' killed. During the first year tho rabbiter had been engaged a total of HO rabbits tad been icilied, and up to tho 31st of May last (one month short of the second year) 113 hud been killed, making a total of 223 rabbits during th© term of his employment. It was left in tho Otiairman's hands to arrange the date erf tho Hoard's next meeting. Accounts passed for payment! amounted to £6B 14s Od.