Tussock board raises rate

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32588, 23 April 1971, Page 8

Tussock board raises rate

Grubbing charges were increased from 80c last season to 86c an hour in the coming year, when the North Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board discussed its estimates yesterday.

It has been estimated that the increase, of about 2 per cent, will give $114,120 in recoveries from farmers, compared with $100,293 recovered last year.

Mr F. J. Bain said that the board should study its costing policy, with a view to holding costs. One way would be to get more farmerparticipation. Estimates for a total expenditure of $307,731 were adopted; the main source of income in addition to recoveries is $161,760 in Government subsidy—the same figure as last year. Wages were estimated at $200,000 compared with $177,227 last year.

The chairman (Mr E. K. Forrester) said that the board continued to make excellent progress and if it could continue its policy for a yegr or two, nassella tussock would be very much reduced.

Commenting on a warning from the Department of Agriculture that, in view of

Government restraints, spending this year should be kept at the same level as last, Mr Forrester said that there were signs that hours could be reduced, and costs held. A total of 166,020 manhours was spent on gang grubbing in the year ended March 31, compared with 175,849 man-hours the previous year, and the drop was mainly attributed to the greater use of Fijians, said the operations manager (Mr D. W. McClellan). “The use of Fijians made it possible to reduce the town gang’s period of employment and save 8000 man-hours in travelling time on the previous season’s figure of 43,222 man-hours,” he said.

The new grubbing season started on March 29 after the arrival of 79 Fijians on March 25, said Mr McClellan. Mr Forrester was reelected chairman, with Mr A. A. MacFarlane as deputy chairman.