CONTROL OF NASSELLA

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 3

CONTROL OF NASSELLA

Shortages Of Labour

“Failure to come to grips with the real problem, control of nassella. can no longer be laid at the feet of the farmers in the area, or the board, but rather at the system under which we live.” said Mr T G. Maxwell, chairman of the North Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board, in his annual report to the board yesterday.

“New Zealand must expand her secondary industry, but to do so at the expense of our primary industry is foolhardy in the extreme,” he said. “Reduce the speed of the development of secondary industry which is so demanding in our manpower resources, and do some maintenance on our land. The board, through its inability to obtain labour last year, was unable to capitalise on gain made in previous years, and the subsequent seeding of tussock will entail more years of otherwise unnecessary arduous work in bringing nassella under control.

"Rangers are probably the best investment the board and farmers have, as they are able to go ahead, find the first few tussocks, and have them removed before they can become established.

“The maximum area that can be properly ranged by one man is 30,000 acres, a yepr.- The area of *he board is SOO.jOO acres, and on Uris basis, the board's rangers should be increased to 30 at least. At present some country does not see a ranger more than once in three to five years. “Closer settlement with its subsequent better farm practice is an important aspect of tussock control, where the individual directly interested can give the care and attention to the land that is required. -

“As a result of powers the board possesses and has enforced during the last year, private and public investors refuse to lend money on mortgage on infested properties, and this denies a farm worker who has saved money and who is familiar with the tussock and wbuld make an excellent farmer the opportunity of acquiring a farm of his own. contributing by his efforts to better control of nassella and increased farm production. “It is the practice of the State Advances Corporation to follow this pattern and yet this potential farmer, if married with children, can go to the city, capitalise on his family benefit, be lent money by the State Advances at three per cent, for a house, work for an uneconomic secondary industry and he and his children lost to the service of farming probably for all time—surely this is a case of muddled thinking,” Mr Maxwell said.