CLEARING WEEDS ON FARMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1932, Page 2

CLEARING WEEDS ON FARMS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,-In your issue of to-day 1 note a statement made at a meeting o the Opunake branch of the Fanners Union ■by the. president, Mr. J. D. Conaglen. He hopes that farmers will avail themselves of the opportunity of getting their weeds cleared free oi cost by the unemployed under the 5a scheme; also that the County Council would transport the men in lorries to the diffeient farms, therefore the transport would not cost the farmers anything. Well, so far as I am concerned, as a, member of the Egmont County Council, I will not lend my name for free transport of the unemployed to farms for cleai - in" weeds. I. would be quite safe in sayin" that 90 per cent, of the.faimeis in the Egmont County clear their weeds without free labour, and I am sure these farmers would not lower their dignity by asking for free labour and transport to clear weeds they themselves are both legally and morally responsible to keep under control. It is only a few lazy loafers who have neglected their weeds in years ■gone by that will -benefit by this scheme, and the sooner industrious, settlers take their place the better (with a few exceptions). Ratepayers have heavy rates to meet at the present time for ordinary roading purposes and hospital levies, without providing free transport for labour to help those who have neglected their farms. If these farmers are to get unemployed labour, they should at least be made to pay half the cost of the value of work done. —I am, etc., A. J. LILLEY, Warea, June 6, 1032,