THE PROBLEM OF RABBITS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1934, Page 15

THE PROBLEM OF RABBITS

PEST VIEWED SERIOUSLY PAYMENT OF ROYALTIES URGED. DECISION OF TARANAKI BODIES. The executive of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association recently framed suggestions for combating the rabbit pest in Taranaki, and on Tuesday its recommendations were considered by the quarterly meeting of the association. The executive recommended “that each local authority be urged to take steps to cope with the rabbit pest. The executive recommends payment of a royalty of an agreed amount for each pair of rabbit ears produced from rabbits destroyed within the borders.” It was decided to adopt the executives recommendation and to add that power be sought to make payments out of county revenue without the necessity of forming a rabbit board. Mr. Cleland added that it was desired to bring Ohura county in to assist, and it was resolved to write to the Ohura County Council asking for its co-opera-tion. To date 423 rabbits had been destroyed in Whangamomona county , and they were coming in from the adjacent districts. The chairman (Mr. J. B. Murdoch) said the executive felt it could not agree to contribute towards the Whangamomona county as rabbits were also entering Taranaki from the south end and it was believed that a better method would be for local bodies to pay a royalty to have rabbits destroyed within their own areas. The Act, however, would not permit that unless a- rabbit board were formed, and it was suggested that the Counties Act be amended to permit local bodies to make payments from their funds for the destruction of rabbits. At present counties were empowered to pay for the destruction of birds’ eggs but not for the destruction of rabbits.

Mr. E. Long (Waimate West County) said it was a question of forming a rabbit board or securing power to enable a local body to pay royalties out of its funds.

The chairman said a rabbit board had to comply with certain requirements and could be formed only by the consent of a majority of the ratepayers. He thought it would be impossible to form a rabbit board if it were known that the residents could be rated. Mr. Cleland said he believed they were getting the rabbits under in the Whangamomona county, but in Ohura at the back of them nothing was being done and it was essential to have combined action by the local bodies all around them. They would be very pleased if the other counties would do something to assist them in their efforts. The position would be serious if no action was taken.

The chairman remarked that the Hawera County Council had decided to pay royalties at its meeting on Saturday, and by Monday morning four pairs of rabbits’ ears were received at the office.