Nassella Control Causes Concern

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31101, 2 July 1966, Page 21

Nassella Control Causes Concern

With another grubbing season under way, and with its labour gangs fully committed, the North Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board is concerned about the state of ownercontrol on a number of properties.

Members who attended yesterday’s monthly meeting at Scargill, agreed that on larger properties, the task was one for the board’s gangs, but concern was expressed that the board was having to expend labour on small properties, where owner-con-trol should be adequate. In considering the property survey report covering 21 properties, members were perturbed that the list included a property of less than 500 acres, with only a small acreage of native country, and where the situation was described as worsening. “The nassella problem on a large property can only be effectively controlled with board labour, but a small property of this size should not be a problem,” said the acting chairman (Mr A. A. Macfarlane). “All you can do is exhort them to deal with the problem,” said the board’s inspector (Mr W. L. Kay). “We should grub these properties, and charge them for it,” said Mr Macfarlane. “If we subsidised these owners on the ’black’ list only 25 per cent instead of one for one, how would that go?” asked Mr D. R. Wilkie. Mr Macfarlane did not favour this suggestion. “The job of the board is to kill tussock, not to kill farmers” he said. “I think the only thing we can do is put the gangs in and charge them at the existing rate. If they are being charged, they are not getting the work done cheaply. The most effective grubbing is done by the board’s staff.” “We are getting a shade too much to handle,” said Mr Kay. “I do think these people need a push along,” said Mr C. H. T. Morrison. “We need their co-operation. I think one of the reasons why these small places have been left to the board is because the board is cheap labour. “We have put it up Is an hour in the last 12 months.

That is quite a rise,” Mr Macfarlane replied. Mr L. R. C. Macfarlane agreed with the acting chairman that the board’s task was to kill tussock. He did not think the board could do much about the owners. Control by the board’s staff was by far the most efficient. “The problem is to induce these people to do something,” said Mr A. R. Dingwall. “We have discussed this problem time and time again,” said Mr H. E. Connor. “One day someone will come up with a good idea.”