COUNTY COUNCIL CONFERENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LV, Issue 5739, 2 August 1893, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL CONFERENCE.

'» li A conference of Chairmen of County • Oounc£l» was held afc Ashburlon on Monday ; i present — Meiers .John Griprg (Aabburton County Oouncjl, m tho chair), W- Balfour c (Geraldine County Cojuacil), I?. M'Millan s (Selwyn County Council) and if. Milne (Mackenzie County Council). 3 Tlxo following resolutions woro carried i unanimously : — v '• Tb»t with reference to tlje cjejt.ruclioa of

small birds, it is necessary that some system should bo adopted m the several lioud Boards and Counties. That inasmuch us the towns and cities constitute some of the chief breeding places, r,he boroughs should bo compelled j to assist iv abating the nuisance. That the poiaot ing by local bodies be rn&do compulsory by the Government bringing Clause 7 of the Small Birds Act into aotive operation where' ever the work is not effectually dono by the local bodies. That a uniform rate of 2fcd per dozen for the collection of eggs and heads be paid by the local bodies." " That the Noxious Weeds Bill is, m tho opinion of this meeting, quite impracticable, as drawn, and would be most oppressive to farmers ; that the most important consideration is to prevent the seeds of weeds m Soho^ule B herewith (wild turnip, fat hen, and Canadian thistle, Agrostic vulgaris) being sold with other seeds, or iv any way ; that tbe eradication of oeveral of the weeds m the sohedules as printed is virtually impossible ; that legislation should therefore give a discretionary power to local bodies as to eradication, but not with reference to the sale of seeds ; with reference to clearing of gorse, etc., from Government reserves and Crown lands, the work should be dono at the cost of the Government, that with reference to clearing of riverbeds, inasmuch as they are already under the control of County Councils, the work should be left entirely at their discretion ; that with reference to the cutting and oleaning of fenc«B, ample provision is already made, so far as is necesiary, under the Pubiio Works and Road Boards Acts, and also as betweon neighbouring properties m the Fencing Aot ; that copies of tbe above suggestions be forwarded to the Minister for Lands, Messrs Rollenton, Rhodes, Wright, Hall - Jones, Saunders, Steward, Meredith and Blake." Mr Milne drew attention to the rapid spread of the rabbits m tbe South Canterbury district, and the desirableness of the formation of a Babbit Board to deal with the country between the Bangitata and Waitaki rivera. Ho urged the formation of a Board was necessary to try and deal with the rabbit question and prevent them from increasing at their present rate. The rabbits were increasing very rapidly m tho Mackenzie country, and the Babbit Department did not appear to be able to cope with tbe pest. The rabbit fence erected aaout six years ago had undoubtedly done good service and delayed the invasion for aame years, but unfortunately there were a lot of rabbits m the country before the fonoe was erected and these must have increased enormously. Too much reliance had been placed on the fence. Between 40,000 and 50,000 rabbits had been killed last year between the Tekapo and Pukaki. The rabbits trust have come m at the Waitaki, and if vigorous measures were not taken to cope with tho post soon the runholders would have to face a very heavy expenditure. He complained of the inefficient manner m which the work of inspection had been dons, and urged that a Babbit Board should be formed. Mr MoMillan agreed with Mr Milne that too much reliance had been placed on the fence, but he did not think much good could be done by discussing the matter at that meeting. Mr Grigg thought tho increase of the rabbits was due to tho inefficient manner m which the work of the inspectors had baen done, but he did not see that the present conference could do more than express its sympathy with the sufferers by the rabbit pest On tbe motion of Mr McMillan it was resolved to recommend the Government to make certain alterations m the mode of preparing the electoral rolls under the Counties Aot. Several other minor matters were dealt with, and a vote of thanks to the chairman i terminated fcha nrnfiftfidinoa.