CLEARING RAGWORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23203, 24 November 1938, Page 14

CLEARING RAGWORT

NO LABOUB AVAILABLE £4OO LYING IDLE COUNCIL'S PREDICAMENT [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] TE AROHA, Wednesday A report that although there was £4OO available for ragwort eradication in the Piako county, the engineer, Mr. B. H. Horner, was unable to find any eligible men to carry out the work, was discussed at a meeting of the County Council. Mr. Burgess considered that in view of the position the council should disclaim responsibility for the work of control. The money, he said, had been .made available by the Government on condition that only relief men were employed. Although there were something like 50 subsidised men in the borough of To Aroha none was available for doing this vital work. The chairman, Mr. W. C. Kennedy, said he had had several inquiries from young single men who were willing to do the work, but who were not registered and therefore not eligible. The department insisted on their doing farm work. The council was permitted to use only married men and these all preferred to work in town on subsidy. It was decided to await a reply to an inquiry as to whether it was possible to insist that men should take country work and in the event of not then being able to get satisfaction to refuse to accept responsibility.