MATAWAI SETTLERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20273, 14 June 1940, Page 2

MATAWAI SETTLERS

CLEARING OF LAND COST OF BULLDOZERS vSprcinl to the Hornld.) MATAWAI, this day. At a ’ meeting of the Matawai Settlers' Association, now embracing the hill-country districts from Otoko to Motu. a letter was received from the secretary of the Poverty Bay District Council of Primary Production enclosing a statement from Mr. R. B. Tennent, Director of Primary Production, giving costs in regard to stumping and clearing land. The cost of working a 95 h.p. tractor with buii-dozer and winch attachments was given as £2 per hour, with an estimated cost of £5 to £7 per acre, according to the type of land to be cleared.

It was decided that the secretary endeavour to make arrangements with some local firm to hold a demonstration of land-clearing and track-making in the district in an endeavour to arrive at a correct estimate of costs locally, members expressing the opinion that owing to the bush having been felled a long time and the stumps -'being fairly rotten, the job could be done considerably under the Government estimate.

Owing to the depredations of wild pigs' in some parts of the county, it was decided to request the Waikohu County Council to apply to the Government to have the bounty on pig snouts become operative there.

Mr. W. L. Rutledge reported that owing to the distance he was living from Gisborne, he found it very inconvenient to attend the District Primary Producers’ Council as the representative of the Matawai Settlers’ Association, and asked to be relieved of the position. Mr. H. J. F. Tombleson was appointed in his stead. Mr. John Hope presided at the meeting, at which there w'as a fair attendance.