PROPOSED RABBIT BOARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 May 1938, Page 9

PROPOSED RABBIT BOARD

MATTER FOR THE FARMERS THEMSELVES FEATHERSTON COUNTY COUNCIL DISCUSSION (“Times-Age” Special) “We do not want a big army of inspectors. We have too many now,” remarked Councillor A. B. Martin in the course of discussion at today’s meeting of the Featherston County Council on a proposal to establish a rabbit board in the Wairarapa. While agreeing that rabbits constituted a menace in the district, particularly around Masterton and Mauriceville, Councillors considered that they were not competent to express an opinion on the proposal and that the farmers should be given an opportunity of giving their views on the proposal.

Councillor J. C. Bidwill said there would be a tremendous lot of opposition to the establishment of a rabbit board. The small dairy farmer could handle his rabbits in a couple of hours. He saw no reason why those men should pay rabbit board rates. Councillor Martin: “But they do not clean rabbits out in two hours or even two years.” Councillor Bidwill: “The only solution is inspectors.” Voices: “We have them How.” Councillor D. Cameron: “The Act is all wrong. The inspectors should have power to prosecute instead of the Department.” The chairman Mr Q. Donald, said the cost of controlling and working a big board would be the main difficulty. In the opinion of Councillor R. Smith, it was rather for the farmers to decide and not the council.

Councill R. W. Matthews: “In my experience inspectors are hopeless.”

“The rabbits are a definite menace, all right,” observed Councillor Martin, who moved that the acting secretary of the proposed board be advised that while councillors did not feel competent to express an opinion on the establishment of a board, they did not think that the proposal should be turned down until the farmers, who had to pay the rate, were given an opportunity of expressing an opinion. The motion was carried. i