WINTER PROJECTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22617, 21 April 1948, Page 7

WINTER PROJECTS

DRAIN CLEARANCE ABSORPTION OF LABOUR A decision that seasonal employment projects would be initiated by the P.B. Catchment Board during the coming winter was taken at yesterday s meeting of the board, when members agreed that a responsibility rested upon local authorities to absorb a proportion of the labour released from seasonal employment. „ _ , , The engineer, Mr, A. D. Todd, submitted a report recommending that three gangs of 15 men each could be usefully employed in clearing and grade correction work within a radius of 15 miles from Gisborne. The report was considered in connection with a letter from the resident engineer of the Board’s Department, stating that a number of men would require employment from late in April until October, and asking if the board would be prepared to undertake employment of these men on work convenient to Gisborne, provided suitable financial arrangements could be made. The engineer’s report on the department's inquiry stated that preliminary investigations showed that work could be found, partly on existing drains and partly on the clearance of willow and other growth from rivers and streams. Three Gangs and Transport “To supervise the work one overseer and three gangers will be required Gangs will comprise 15 men, including ganger, and truck transport will be required for each gang,” continued Mr. Todd. “Many drains that have been cleaned recently by seasonal and other labour by the Cook County Council are in good’ condition, but there is still other work of this sort to be done and although unit costs will be higher due to having to work in winter conditions the improvement to the drainage of the land affected will justify the expenditure. “A certain amount of willow clearing and planting work can be done on the Waipaoa River, but generally speaking willow growth is confined to concave bends liable to erosion w'here work would have to be limited to the removal of the top growth with some layering of branches along the lower levels.” The engineer further indicated that he had in mind a suitable applicant as overseer. Free Grants for .Loose Tools The chairman of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council advised that the council would consider applications for free grants for the purchase of essential loose tools for works undertaken by day labour. The letters and the engineer’s report were discussed in committee, when various phases of control and also the desirability of the scheme as a means of absorbing surplus labour in the winter were considered. The board eventually decided unanimously in favour of the adoption of the engineer’s report and agreeing to undertake off-season employment of surplus labour. It was also agreed that endeavours be made to secure contributions from land-owners where betterment of the land could be urged as a reason for such contributions.