WAITOMO INTERESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21515, 12 June 1933, Page 11

WAITOMO INTERESTS

PROPOSED COUNTY RATES THE CONTROL OF RAGWORT [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] TE KUITI, Saturday Notice of motion was given at tho monthly meeting of the Waitomo County Council yesterday that the following rates for the various ridings be struck:—Aria, 2d; Awakino, lid; Hangatiki, 2|d; Malioenui, ljd; Mairoa, 2£d; Paemako, 2d; Tangitu, 2£d; Te Kuiti, 2£d. When the question of the rates to be struck was under discussion it was pointed out that, if instead of 56 per cent the full 100 per cent of rates struck had been collected, it would probably have been possible to reduce the rate to Id, or even less. The chairman, Mr. W. A. Lee, stated that the greatest difficulties were that revaluation was taking place from time to time and tho old question of the Crown as mortgagee. These were pressing very heavily upon certain sections in rating areas, especially where the property was fairly good. Tho chairman reported on the conference held recently at Hamilton to consider the ragwort problem. The consensus of opinion, said the chairman, was that tho bill proposed was altogether too drastic for tho outer districts and, moreover, would incorporate no provision for destroying the weed on Crown, native and unoccupied lands. Ho considered that if the project were carried out in a district like Waitomo tho decreaso in rates hoped to be brought about by the petrol tax would bo nullified and an increase would result. However, GO or 70 counties in the Dominion had supported the proposal and said that their delegates would vote for it at the Counties' Conference. Something should be done or the council would find this unwelcome task on its hands. Mr. Lee said it was proposed that the scheme be worked on the same lines as under the Rabbit Act. but where it would cost pence per acre to exterminate rabbits, it would cost pounds to do the same with ragwort. After some discussion on various means for combating the spread of ragwort it was decided to submit a remit to the Counties' Conference to the effect that any attornpt to place the control of ragwort with local bodies would be strenuously opposed by the Waitomo County Council unless adequate provision were made for dealing with tho weed on abandoned and native lands.