RAGWORT RELIEF WORKERS

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1788, 3 December 1936, Page 6

RAGWORT RELIEF WORKERS

CHANGE IN RATES Farmers Completely Dissatisfied Strong criticism of the Government’s new scheme for subsidising ragwort elimination by relief workers was made at a meeting of the Tokoroa Progress League on Monday, when a copy of a leter from the league to Mr. A. F. Moncur, M.P., was read, expressing the “ complete dissatisfaction ” of district farmers with the new rates of pay. It was submitted that these were quite unreasonable . for the work, which did not need skilled workers. The attention of the member was drawn fo what might .be a serious consequence—the fact that a scale of £4 for a 40-hour week for these men was liable to cause dissatisfaction among regular farm employees. Even the scale of rates as revised under pressure from the Matamata County Council was too high, and the league sought Mr. Moncur’s influence in having these readjusted.

In reply, Mr* Mon.cur said he would make further representations to the Government.

Mr. K. S. Cox said the Matamata County Council had tried to arrange a meeting of the special ragwort committee established in Hamilton by a number of county councils at which Cabinet Ministers would be present, but no available date had yet been indicated by any member of the Government.