MATAMATA COUNTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18926, 21 April 1933, Page 8

MATAMATA COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. CONTROL OF RAGWORT. The meeting of the council on Thursday was attended toy Crs. J. W. Anderson (chairman), J. Bruce, K. S. Cox. P. Dee, A. T. Morris, E. Nickle, J. Pohlen, A. H. Stewart and E. D. White.

It w ? as unanimously decided to support the Tauranga County Council’s representation to the Government, urging an immediate, open and exhaustive inquiry into the question of monetary reform. The Waikato Hospital Board's proposed estimates for the year 1933-34 were submitted. The Matamata County levy, if no alterations are made, will be £2482, an increase <vf £64.

’.Replies re the proposed conference of local bodies to discuss amalgamation were received from the Plako County Council, Thames Valley Drainage Board, Hungahunga Drainage Board, Whitehall Rabbit Board, Tokoroa Rabbit Board and East Waikato Rabbit Board. The Thames Valley Drainage Board stated that it was not concerned in any proposed amalgamation of counties.

It was decided to call a meeting O't delegates from the rabbit boards in the district, to be held at Tlrau on May 4. It wgs decided to extend the time before the penalty on rales would be imposed to the end of June. Air J. W. Simpson, of Matamata, w r as appointed assessor for the county. With reference to the ragwort menace the report of the committee set up by the Matamata County Council, Putaruru branch of the Farmers’ Union and Putaruru Chamber of Commerce was placed before the council

The committee submitted a draft bill which embodied its views on the legislation required, in which the most important points were: —-That local bodies'-, should be enabled to assume absolute control of ragwort within their respective districts; that inspectors .should be answerable solely to the local bodies appointing them, and not he subject to political control; that owners of land may be compelled not to cut, pull or grub ragwort once only, but to keep on with all work necessary to eradicate the weed: that in the event of any owner failing in his obligations steps could be taken to clear the land, the cost of the work ranking as, a first charge on the land. It was decided to circularise all counties and to submit a copy of the proposed hill to a meeting of representatives of all South Auckland county councils at Hamilton on June 7.