RESIDENTS PROTEST AT GRUBBING GANG’S ACTS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29165, 28 March 1960, Page 19

RESIDENTS PROTEST AT GRUBBING GANG’S ACTS

A petition signed by 68 residents >f the Scargill-Motunau district orotesting against the behaviour st members of the North Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board’s irubbing gang housed at Scargill was tabled at the monthly meet:ng of the board on Thursday Fhe petition alleged certain incidents and asked the board to screen the records of prospective employees. The minutes of the meeting record that the board considered that as the charges made in the ~>etition were of a criminal nature ind the board was not advised at the time, and that as therd was nothing specific in the allegations ’he matter should be referred to the police for investigation. If the allegations could not be oroved the board felt the oetitioners should be asked to withdraw the allegations. A copy of the petition will be sent to the Labour Department "or its information. The secretarymanager of the board (Mr F. J. Foley) said in his monthly report, which was considered earlier in (he meeting, that the department had been advised that it must be more selective in its placements and that a closer scrutiny of the men would be made when they arrived at the camps. Selection was governed by the number of men available, and if it was too harsh it was possible that the gangs would not be fully manned and the costs of running the camps would be out of proportion. Building Damaged

Mr Foley reported that the Lands and Survey Department was concerned about the condition of the Glenbourne homestead, which is being used to house a gang, and had said that unless the building was looked after better it would be necessary to cancel the tenancy. The department, in a letter read to the meeting, described damase which had been done to the building of a “wilful” nature and asked that repairs be made. These repairs had now been carried out. Mr Foley reported.

Grubbing gang camps had been re-opened at Waiau, Waipara and Scargill, Mr Foley reported, and at present three gangs were working. It was intended to open the Cheviot gang next, followed by Glenbourne and finally Balmoral. and this would be done as labour became available.

The Cheviot County Council exnressed its concern at the limited time spent in the county by grubbing, ranging and inspecting

staff. In a letter read to the meeting the council said it felt the Cheviot ranger should work entirely within the county boundaries. Mr Foley said that the ranger concerned had been used as foreman of a grubbing gang for about three months because no other suitable man was available. With the establishment of a grubbing camp at Cheviot, which would come into operation in April, and the two houses being built in the township for additional rangers, work within the county would be increased. The analysis of wages for the year to date for the grubbing gang showed that the total time spent in each county, including travelling, holidays and wet time, was 135 hours in Kowai, 27,385 in Waipara. 13.728 in Amuri and none in Cheviot. Ranging time was 379 hours in Kowal, 7738 in Waipara, 3939 in Amuri and 1077 in Cheviot. Hostel Additions The board decided to investigate the cost of extending the Waiau hostel sleeping accommodation to accommodate an extra gang of seven men. This would enable the transfer of the Glenbourne gang to Waiau. The board decided to investigate this after discussing the Glenbourne homestead damage. The extension of the hostel would make it the same size as the Waipara building, it would provide better facilities, save a cook’s wages and the rent at present being paid to the Lands and Survey Department for Glenbourne and enable more economical housekeeping.