THE RABBIT QUESTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2542, 1 July 1909, Page 6

THE RABBIT QUESTION.

MEETING 9F THE COMMITTEE. The committee sot up by the Gisborne Farmers Union, to consider the danger of the rabbit pest, met yesterday afternoon to further discuss the question of setting up a Rabbit Board. There were present: Mr. W. D. Lysnar (chairman), Messrs W. Bruce, E. M. Hutchinson, J. Clark, E. Murphy, and J. C. Field. Correspondence was received from the Wairoa and Opotiki County Councils agreeing that thoir respective counties should be included in the proposed rabbit area. The latter body suggested that a portion of the Whakatane County aa far ag the. Rangitiki should be included. The committee agreed that the boundary on the southern side should extend from the Mohalca river to Tarawera, but were uncertain as to how far the line should extend into the Whakatane County, and it was decided to leave this question in abeyance in order to allow the chairman time to communicate with the Opotiki County Council as to what portion of the Whakatane County should bo included, arid to inquire how the line of fence should proceed from Rangitiki. Inspector Miller, of the. Stock Department, was present, and gave tlie committee a quantity of information. M.r. Hooper, of Wairoa, explained to the committee that the Wairoa settlers recognised the danger from rabbits, and that something should be done. He suggested that the fence line should be near"Wairoa, .and should follow what was known as Cricklewood’s road. A’.ong that line, he' stated, there was a good deal of settlement, and the repairs to the fence could be easily undertaken. The committee decided to take the necessary steps to establish a Rabbit Board, but not to lay down any fixed policy as to a fence line, or as to what means of extermination of the pest should be adopted.