NASSELLA BOARD FACES DEFICIT

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32127, 24 October 1969, Page 1

NASSELLA BOARD FACES DEFICIT

The North Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board faces an estimated debit balance at the end of the financial year of $13,500. This was

disclosed in the secretary-treasurer’s financial report for October presented at a meeting of the board at Waipara yesterday.

In his report, Mr A. J. McKendry said that continuation of the town grubbing gang work until November 21 would increase wages by another $ll,OOO to $11,500, and so increase the estimated debit balance to

$13,500. If the replacement of two utility vehicles was held over until the 1970-71 financial year an estimated debit balance of $BOOO would result.

“I have acquainted the Government auditor with the position. He advises that this balance would be acceptable as long as provision is made in the estimates for 1970-71 for a complete or partial reduction,” Mr McKendry said. The chairman of the board (Mr F. K. Forrester)"%aid the main thing was to get on with the work in hand. Provision for the deficit would have to be made in next year’s estimates if the money could not be collected before then.

He told the board that he and Mr A. A. Macfarlane would be going to Wellington to wait on the Minister of

Agriculture (Mr. Taiboys) to have the question of subsidies straightened out for next year.

“We are getting the work of nassella control done, and the taxpayer is getting a wonderful return for his money,” Mr Forrester said, i Mr T. G. Maxwell said that [it was most encouraging to | see from the property reports

that the number of small tussocks being grubbed was vastly greater than the number of mature plants. The stage had been reached when any interruption to the programme would undo the good that had been done.

He said that a mature tussock was said to shed 30,000 seeds and if this were allowed the problem of nassella control would be multiplied 30,000 times.