NOXIOUS WEEDS CONTROL

Kaikoura Star, Volume LVI, Issue 90, 16 November 1936, Page 2

NOXIOUS WEEDS CONTROL

SUBSIDY OF 14/- PER DAY A circular has been issued to all district employment officers, certifying officers, and local bodies, concerning noxious weeds eradication and control, and wo publish its contents for the benefit of residents in the county. For some years special assistance has been afforded farmers by wav of subsidised labour with the object of en eouraging them to take active measures to combat noxious under (mainly ragwort), but the previous arrangements under which the labour was supplied have not proved entirely satisfactory. It has been decided, therefore, that arrangements must be made to terminate as from November 14. 1936, any work at present being performed on the eradication of ragwort and other noxious weeds under the terms of circular 0/p/17, and the workers, if suitable for the local requirements, may, as from November 16, be brought under one of the following new schemes: — (a) Major schemes controlled by the County Councils under the supervision of the Inspector of .Stock; (h) placement with individual farmers. Both schemes will be supervised by the Department of Agriculture and the men to be employed must be registered and eligible unemployed and he drawn from the local certifying officer by the County Council in the case of scheme (a) and the farmer in the ease of scheme (b). Scheme Controlled by County Councils Men for this scheme must bo drawn by the County Council from the local certifying officer. Supervision, transport, insurance, and payment of wages will be arranged by the County Council. The workers will be employed on a full-time standard rate of basis of 16/- per day (40 hours per week) and the gangers, or foreman, 1/- per day extra. The County Council will make payments and apply to the Department of Agriculture for a refund on a basis which that Department will arrange with the County Council. A subsidy to the Department of Agriculture will be provided from the Employment Promotion fund at the rate of 14/- per man per day for both single and married men provided registered and eligible unemployed workers arc engaged for

the work through the local employment bureau. It is desired that preference should be given to married men, but single men must not be excluded where suitable married men are not aavailable. In cases where sufficient local men are not available for the work offering, enquiry should be made from adjacent districts for suitable registered men to be transferred to the work. No payment will be made for time lost due to wet weather or sickness. The full amount of wages paid will be subject to employment tax.

Certain County Councils will be making recoveries from the land owners under the provision of the Noxious AVeeds Act, 1928. This matter, however, will not concern the certifying officer in any way. It is the desire of the Department of Agriculture that the men be controlled in gangs of about ten, under a ganger or foreman, who will be responsible to the local body for the supervision, time-keeping, custody of stores, etc. The local body in turn will be required to satisfy the local Inspector of Stock of the Department of Agriculture that the work undertaken is performed satisfactorily. Placement with Individual Farmers Quite apart from the major scheme outlined above, applications may he accepted from individual farmers who require assistance by way of labour in the eradication of noxious weeds on their properties. From November 16, 1936, any labour employed under this heading must be employed full-time on a 40-hour week basis and be paid at not less than the full-time standard rate of 16/- per day. The subsidy refundable to the farmer from the Employment Promotion fund will be at the rate of £2 5/- per week and £1 10/per week for married or single men respectively, i.e., 9/- per day for married men and 6/- per day for single men, or a proportionate amount if loss than the full £4 per week is earned.