Free Labour for War on Noxious Weeds

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6864, 21 May 1932, Page 3

Free Labour for War on Noxious Weeds

AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT’S PROPOSALS. MAY LEAD TO ABUSE. In a circular letter entitled “Campaign against noxious weeds” received at yesterday’s meeting of the Wellington provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, the Minister of Agriculture stated that his department had completed arrangements with the Unemployment Board whereby all farmers making application for labour for the purposo of destroying noxious weeds were to be granted relief workers free of wages cost. Tho object of this was to clear productive land of the menace of noxious weeds, and the co-operation of all farmers was earnestly sought. While agreeing that the object was desirable, Mr. A. Howard (Marton) suggested that tho Agricultural Department might well - apply its advice to Crown property, particularly the railway reserves. Hitherto, when tho Railway Department had been’requested to combat noxious weeds growing on railway reserves, the reply had been that the expense was too great to undertake tho work. Mr. W. L. Grice said that the Minister should bo thanked for his offeT and at the same timo reminded of the need for attention to Crown property. Mr. D. Simpson pointed out that the letter was in conflict with the instructions which had been issued to unemployment committees by tho Unemployment Board. The committees’ instructions were that where a farmer could pay for any relief labour he should do so, but the letter under review set out that for the work of clearing noxious weeds relief labour would be granted free of wages cost. He felt that the offer -would be abused and difficulties would crop up. Mi. A. Campbell said that tho instructions to committees were to guard against abuses and he felt that however desirable the scheme offered b> the Minister of Agriculture, it would place the local bodies who were administering relief work in a false position. Ho could see the privilege being abused. Mr. G. L. Marshall stated that many farmers in a position to pay for relief labour were obtaining assistance free of all cost. This was entirely wrong. Tho only way out of tho difficulty was for the Government to insist on a declaration being signed by all farmers applying for relief labour, that they were unable to pay. Tho chairman (Mr. L. Hammond) agreed that the letter appeared to contradict the instructions issued by the Unemployment Board. It was agreed to send a copy of the letter to the Unemployment Board requesting endorsement of the Minister of Agriculture’s proposals. It was further agreed to suggest that the Government tackle noxious weeds on Crown lands with particular attention to railway reserves.