SUBSIDY AVAILABLE TO FARMERS FOR SOIL CONSERVATION FENCING

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 April 1950, Page 3

SUBSIDY AVAILABLE TO FARMERS FOR SOIL CONSERVATION FENCING

MARTON, April 27 (SR).—Details of a scheme under which the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council will grant snbsidies to farm-1 ers for adequate fencing which will I enable soil conservation management of grazing lands were before the j Rangitikei Catchment Board at its monthly meeting In Marton, ■ The object of the scheme, the, council stated, was to provide farm-. ers with a greater incentive to fence' tiieir properties as a soil conservation measure. Applications for subsidies, it was stated, would be received through catchment boards or soil conservation committees. “Each case will be considered on its merits, but cases eligible are those in which it can be shown that additional subdivision fencing will prevent or mitigate soil erosion—the separation of winter from summer country or dark from sunny faces, or eroded from non-eroded land,” the council stated. Basis of the subsidy would be £1 for fl on the cost of materials only (posts and wire). In exceptional cases, where the cost of transporting, materials to the site was excessive, the rate of subsidy may be varied up to £2 for fl on cost of materials. Applicants for subsidy must provide' a plan of the farm, showing fencing and acreages of paddocks, existing and proposed; must also give an undertaking that the land is prudently grazed, and that the fencing will be part of their conservation programme. Fencing must also be erected in accordance with approved standards, and an undertaking given that it will be maintained. Applications must be endorseed by catchment boards or district soil conservation committees and the district soil conservator before submission to the council. The board decided to advise Federated Farmers of these details so that the scheme may be made known to its members. BONNY GLEN-SOUTH MAKIRIKIRI BRANCH W.D.F.F. There was a good attendance or members at the annual meeting of the Bonny Glen-South Makirikiri branch of the W.D.F.F., held at the home of Mrs L. J. Poppe and presided over by Mrs Stantiall.

The financial statement was read by the secretary, Mrs Toogood, which disclosed a favourable credit. The annual report was read by Mrs Stantiall, and she thanked all members for the help they had given her. She paid a special tribute to the retiring secretary, Mrs Toogood.

Both Mrs Stantiall and Mrs Toogood were later presented witl?shoulder sprays. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr H. L. Grut, the auditor. Election of officers resulted:—President, Mrs Stantiall; vice-president and delegate, Mrs Toogood; secretary, Mrs A. J. Cameron; committee, Mesdames S. Bertram, J. Stuart, and M. A, Brightwell. The points prize competition for the year went to Mrs B. Wilhelm, and Helen McDonald won the lucky competition for the afternoon.

It was decided to hold the next meeting a week earlier because of the school holidays, and it will be held at the residence of Mrs Les Gudopp on Tuesday, May 2. The competition is a chrysanthemum. The meeting closed with afternoon tea and a vote of thanks to the hostess