RABBIT PEST

Wairarapa Daily Times, 17 September 1934, Page 5

RABBIT PEST

QUESTION OF CONTROL,

WAIRARAPA BOARD PROPOSAL,

That rabbits are increasing to an alarming extent in the Wairarapa was an opinion expressed by Mr A. Williams, the chief speaker of a deputation which waited on the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union to-day with a view to securing support for the establishment of a rabbit board in the Wairarapa. The other members of the deputation were Messrs H. N. Mclnnes, W. Howard Booth and W. Levin. “My earnest personal Avish is that a rabbit board controlling the whole district be formed, but I have no desire now to try and precipitate you into the formation of a board,” said Mr Williams. “,Wliat I do hope is that when you have heard what we have to say, and have given the question the consideration it deserves, you will see your way clear to call a meeting of farmers throughout the district to discuss the question fully and decide whether it is the popular vote that a board be formed to control, if not exterminate, tins pest. There can be no doubt in your minds that rabbits are here, but let me give you a few figures I know are accurate, as examples of the numbers at large in the Wairarapa. On one block of laud, occupied by various farmers, an area in the vicinity of 10,000 acres, two poisoners in a period of approximately three months killed nearly 11,000 rabbits, a rabbit to the acre.” Figures had been by the Government, continued Mr Williams, that one pair of rabbits in three years, allowing 50 per cent mortality each year, would increase to the staggering figure of 9£ millions. He did not suggest that that would happen here, but it served as a useful illustration to prove that rabbits increased with great rapidity. Mr Williams said some organised effort was needed now to control this menace, which had grown in a few years from quite an insignificant position to a very serious problem to-day. He suggested that the whole of the Wairarapa might be constituted a board. One of the essential features in the formation of a board was good boundaries. If a rate of Id per acre was struck, the sum raised for extermination would amount to £16,666 13s 4d. Of this sum £8333 6s 8d would be subscribed by the farmers, and a like amount in subsidy by the Government. “With that sum, and under proper management, we could give the rabbits a pretty big check, and once under control the rate could be lessened as the rabbits decreased. Mr Mclnnes said it was not generally realised that rabbits were increasing to an amazing extent in the Wairarapa. The chairman, Mr 11. Morrison, and other executive members, said the deputation was to be congratulated on bringing the subject before them. Mr Morrison, doubted whether the whole of the Wairarapa' could be formed into a board. Ilis own experience was that rabbits were increasing at a rapid rate. “We have enough mortgages without having a mortgage of rabbits on us, observed Mr Morrison. A number of speakers spoke against the proposal. It was decided by the executive, on the motion of Mr J. M. Laing, seconded bv Mr J. C. Cooper, that a meeting of farmers, be called to consider the subject of the formation of a rabbit board as suggested. It was left in the hands of the chairman, Mr James, and the secretary, to arrange for the meeting.