WEEDS AND PESTS CONTROL

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1932, Page 8

WEEDS AND PESTS CONTROL

DISCUSSION BY COUNCILLORS. The Matamata County Council, in a letter to the Stratford County Council on Saturday, drew attention to the increase in prices of materials used to control rabbits and ragwort and urged that all precautions be taken to ensure that the public obtained destroying agents at the lowest possible cost. The letter suggested that control of sodium chlorate be assumed by the Agricultural Department to prevent exploitation and to ensure that it was supplied at cost. “I do not approve of the proposal to place control in the hands of the Department of Agriculture,” Cr. S. Pitt stated. “My experience of the department is that it does not go far with a thing like this.” Cr. T. T. Murray said control of weeds should be vested in local bodies. They were the natural organisations to deal with the question. Would the Agricultural Department prosecute the Crown Lands or Advances to Settlers Departments for failure to clear ragwort? He had seen hundreds of acres of good land ruined because ragwort had been permitted to run riot and it was high time somebody raised the question. The local bodies were the ones to do it. Cr. Pitt: If we had control we would soon antagonise our ratepayers. There would be a new' council after every election. “Well that wouldn’t matter,” Cr. Murray retorted. “If you lose the friendship of a man through doing your duty you are better off; the friendship' of that type of man is not worth having.” The letter was supported except for the portion pertaining to the Agricultural Department. ACCESS FOR MATAU DISTRICT. MOVE TO HAVE ROAD METALDED. As a deputation from the Ngatimaru riding of the Stratford county, Messrs. L. Ayres and W. McCoard waited on the council on Saturday with a request that the Kiore-Matau Road be metalled. The engineer (Mr. J. W. Spence) said the application from the council to the Local Government Loans Board for a loan to metal the road, about six miles, was approved but it was found later that the stretch included three-quarters of a mile of Mangaoapa Road. Nevertheless the authority was given for the Kiore-Matau stretch. The work could be done more cheaply with the £3 for £1 subsidy by contract than it could be under a relief scheme without the subsidy. The clerk (Mr. C. J. Campbell) said the council had sanction for the section from the junction o.f Mangaoapa and Matau Roads along Matau Road to Matau. The stumbling block was the threequarters of a mile from Krore to the intersection of Mangaoapa and Matau Roads. “If I had £3OO I could do the whole stretch,” Mr. Spence said. “We could raise some of it,” Mr. Ayres stated. The chairman (Mr. T. R. Anderson) said that if it would help he and Mr. Spence would attend a meeting of settlers to discuss the matter. The suggestion was adopted. GENERAL ITEMS. “I have kept an eye on the night Result: Two girls, East Road, 8 o’clock, push bikes, no lights. One girl, Mountain Road, 11 o’clock, push bike, no light. One car both lights failed. Three cars, one light. A good many cars are running without tail light.” That paragraph appeared in the report of the inspector to the Stratford County Council on Saturday. Much industry was apparent in the rooms of Mr. W. F. Ross, secretary to the Stratford A. and P. Association, on Saturday when the work of packing and returning 700 exhibits from the show was in progress. An addition to tire Stratford A. and P. prize list is as follows: Fat lamb for export: E. A. Best 1, A. L. Bremer 2 and 3. The removal of pungas from the roadsides in the Stratford county will in future be followed by prosecution, according to a decision reached by the council on Saturday after the inspector (Mr. S. J. Cuff) reported that pungas were being taken. The Eltham Borough Council on Friday night expressed agreement with the principle of maintaining the main highways fund for the purpose for which it was created. A letter on the subject was received from the Canterbury Progress League. The Mayor (Mr. I. J. Bridger) pointed out that the Main Highways Act was passed on the understanding that the money raised would be expended on good roads for the relief of motorists. He thought it would be a breach of faith to divert the money to the Consolidated Fund.

At a special meeting of the Eltham Borough Council on Friday a special order was passed raising a municipal building redemption loan of £2400. The Mayor explained that the amount was merely an old loan renewed with repayments on the table system.

Mr. Dick Trolove, Mata, a well-known Eltham footballer, sustained a painful injury to his foot last week. While discing he was thrown from his seat and the weight of the discs came on his right leg. It is believed an ankle bone is broken.

A day for honorary members of the Eltham Croquet Club was held last week. Competition winners were: Golf croquet, Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Ware; ladder croquet, Mrs. Weir sen. and Mrs. McKay. The Rev. G. T. Beale, vicar of Stratford, has been appointed a canon of St. Peter’s Cathedral, Hamilton. The Farmers’ Co-op. has received instructions from’ Mrs. W- Humphries to sell without reserve the whole of her household furniture and effects. The sale will take place at the house, Bridger Street, Eltham, on Thursday, at 1.30 p.m. LIVE, LAUGH AND LOVE! THE ELTHAM AMATEURS. On Thursday and Friday, a company of Eltham amateurs will present a sparkling musical comedy entitled, “Live, Laugh and Love.” The programme will open with a diverting farce, “The Bathroom Door.” There is talent in the town and the comedy promises to be an unqualified success. There will be bright musical numbers, fascinating ballets and excellent songs. You live with the Eltham amateurs, you’ll love the performance, and you'll certainly have the laugh of your life!