RAGWORT CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 138, 8 December 1936, Page 6

RAGWORT CONTROL

FARMERS' DIFFICULTIES

WAGES AT £4 A WEEK

Satisfaction with the gang system of dealing with the ragwort menace was expressed by representatives of the county councils of the Waikato, East Coast, and King Country, in a conference attended by the . Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong,.in Hamilton on Friday (states the "New Zealand Herald"). . The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, was to have been present, but owing to indisposition he; is confined to his home. . Mr. J. W. Anderson, Matamata county, presided. •The speakers said the decision of the Government, to increase the pay rate of the men employed on the ragwort lo £4 week had caused a dislocation of'the excellent.service .-that was being rendered;' • ■ '•••.. •• '.■ ■■ ■ BEYOND FARMERS' MEANS. The rate was in excess of the amount many farmers could afford to pay, notwithstanding the Government subsidy of 30s a week for single 'men and £2 5s for married men,- and in consequence many, of the men had returned to Auckland. The Government was carrying on the work on Crown land, unindividualised Native land, and on the farms of indigent owners. Several gangs, were still employed by county councils. . .... The- Minister, said the ragwort menace could be regarded in the same way as an invading army and should be resisted on a national basis in.the same way. People should not stop to ask whose land was infected, for no ,matr ter whose it was the nation should act in co-operation to combat it. Mr. Armstrong said he would not ask anyone in New Zealand. to work for 27s 6d a week again,, but he did not think the whole burden of the prer sent wages should be carried by. the local bodies or the farmers themselves. The State should assist. . When the wages were increased from 27s 6d..t0 £4, he could understand the difficulties of the farmers to meet the increase, but he was sorry the men had had to relurn to Auckland. The Government would consider importing sodium chlorite in bulk and would-let the local bodies have it at cost, and at a much lower rate than it was available for at present. ; GOVERNMENT WORST OFFENDER. The Minister admitted that the Government was the worst offender in respect of noxious weeds, for much Crown and Native land was infected. The Government, he. added, would have to tackle,this problem of 'weeds on unoccupied Crown and Native land. Mr. Armstrong agreed ■ that the amount already voted by the Government for the eradication of ragwort could only touch the fringe of the trouble. ; When he returned to Wellington, said Mr. Armstrong, he would consider the representations made, and he believed the Government would face up; to the position. He thought mortgagees should contribute towards the cost of eradicating ragwort, as the work was assisting to conserve their interests,' and something in the direction of niaking the mortgagees help was being .considered l?y. the Government. ';