New rates set for tussock ranging

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 38183, 24 March 1973, Page 5

New rates set for tussock ranging

i Resistance by farmers to increased ranger charges set by the North Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board at its January meeting led to changes in the charges yesterday.

The ranger charges approved at the board’s meeting on Thursday were $1.34 an hour. The board approved the charges by six votes to five, three members absent. The operations manager (Mr D. W. McLellan) reported that the new rates with varying charges were not generally being accepted by farmers. “What upsets them is the huge increase from last year to this. In one case a farmer paid $4O last year, whereas this year the rate could be about $600.” INCENTIVE PLAN Mr F. J. Bain said that the aim of the policy committee when recommending the charges in January was to give farmers the incentive to do the work themselves, where possible. He conceded Mary’s Anglican Church, Timaru. 8.0: Musical Miniatures. 8.30: Weather and News. 8.40: Lobby Report. 9.0: Books of the Week. 9.30: The Irresistible Labyrinth. 10.10: The Navy Lark. 10.30: News and Weather. 10.39: The Epilogue for the Third Sunday in Lent. 11.0: 8.8. C. News and Commentary. 3YC, CHRISTCHURCH (960 kilohertz)

7 p.m.: 8.8. C. Music Showcase. 8.20: Donizetti; Luciano Pavarotti (tenor), Vienna Opera Orchestra under Edward Downes. 8.40: Chopin: Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor. Op. 35—Van Cliburn (piano). 9.3: Monn: Concerto in G minor — Jacqueline du Pre (cello), London Symphony Orchestra under Sir John Barbirolli. 9.26: She Done Him Wrong. 9.39: Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68—Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Rudolf Kempe. 10.25: Wolf; Christa Ludwig (contralto), Erik Werba (piano). 10.40: Handel: Sonata No. 4 in D, Op. 1 No. 13 — Yehudi Menuhin (violin), George Malcolm (harpsichord), Ambrose Gauntlett (viola de gamba). 3ZB. CHRISTCHURCH 7.2 p.m.: Country RFD. 7.30: Advocate Impeccable. 8.2: In Concert. 8.30: The Navy Lark. 9.2: Ayalon’s Angel. 10.2: Late Night Listening. 10.15: Nick Nicholison Sextet.

that the committee had not compared the new rates with those of last year, but said that the rates last year were too low. Mr D. G. Allan said there should be no charge where there was an inspection and no nassella found. The chairman (Mr F. K. Forrester) said that in the last 15 years the board had had good co-operation from farmers. Before that, with regular prosecutions, it had made little progress.

The board also received a letter from a farmer, Mr A. M. Deans, of Kilmarnock, Cheviot, protesting about grubbing rates. His property had been grubbed for .30 years and nassella was more widespread now than ever. Since the increase in farm prices he had been able to do development work for the first time in six years.

“If farm prices come down and you keep putting the charges up I won’t be able to do any more development,” said Mr Deans. He suggested that the Government should pay for grubbing on condition that farmers used the equivalent amount of money for topdressing or other development work.

Fijian labour.—The Minister of Labour approved a draft of 48 workers from Fiji, provided the board would guarantee vacancies (and camp accommodation) for a further 20 single men who might become available locally. Mr McLellan reported that it was not convenient to employ 48 workers, and that 44 would be brought and accommodated at Waiau, Cheviot and Omihi.

Utility vehicles.—Mr McLellan reported that more than half the fleet was now new vehicles. The board approved tenders for the sate of five utility vehicles to four tenderers at a total of 55835, and the purchase o! five new vehicles by tender for $22,930. It also approved the purchase of two new motor-cycles for $1258.

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