RABBITS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 89, 16 April 1938, Page 8

RABBITS

Sir,—l am quite sure that rabbits are increasing very fast in Waitotara County, at all events in that portion which lies in line with and including, Taranaki, Old Bushy Park and Kokoarua. I know nothing about what the position is in regard to the country between here and the sea coast. Probably they are decreasing there because very likely that is where the activites of'the board’s rabbiters will be mainly concentrated. In any case I do not intend to continue paying rabbit rates without receiving any substantial result from them. I know that some people are under the Impression that the land and climate in this district are unsuitable for the increase of rabbits. But I know that is not so, although I will agree that in the papa country, say, from Paparangi back, conditions would not be favourable for them.

There is one thing that is very certain, either we haven’t got enough rabbiters, or they aren’t doing their job as thoroughly as it should be done. I am afraid the proposed Noxious Weeds Board will be just as great a failure as the Rabbit Board in this district has been. For without the appointment of inspectors who are quite independent of such boards or county councils, the best results will never be obtained.

Is it reasonable to expect an inspector appointed by a board to report, and, if necessary, cause a member of the board, or perhaps its chairman, to be fined for neglecting to attend to his noxious weeds? That is where the chief weakness in any such scheme lies; to be really effective inspectors should be Government appointees. When I mention that no rabblter has been seen at work by anyone on any of the properties occupied by me, since round about last August, it will be admitted that I have good'ground for complaint. And there are plenty of rabbits for them to deal with. In fact, if it hadn’t been that the Brown boys shot a large number on Kokoarua, that place would have been overrun with them by this time. If the proposed Noxious Weeds Board is not more successful than our Rabbit Board then God help this district, for we will be overwhelmed by both rabbits and noxious weeds. I repeat, that there is no need to set up any Noxious Weeds Board, for between the Department of Agriculture, the County Councils and the Rabbit Boards all the machinery necessary is already available, and only requires to be got to work in a common-sense way.—l am, etzi., G. F. MOORE, Bushy Park.