MATAMATA COUNTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 115, Issue 19159, 20 January 1934, Page 9

MATAMATA COUNTY.

orbwiHk {nc.Ei i iiiu ur uvunuiki SHORTAGE OF FARM LABOUR. A special and ordinary meeting of the council was held on Friday, Mr J. W. Anderson presiding. At a special meeting of the council It was decided that the statutory ■half-holiday for the county be Wednesday, the same as last year. Speaking of unemployment the engineer stated that as far as the rural districts were concerned there was no such thing. He knew of numerous ■cases whore farmers and others could not obtain men. Cr Morris was of opinion that there was no need for the retention of the secretaries retained to handle tlxe question. Cr Pohlen said that the Matamata ] Town Board agreed that too much ' money was being spent in secretarial 1 work. He had been prepared to employ men for haymaking at above ordinary rates, but could get none. Cr White thought the men would do more useful work if they were under the direct supervision of tho council. The matter was deferred till next meeting, when the engineer will furnish a full report. The secretary was instructed to notify the Town Boards to show rea- : son why the office expenses should ! not be substantially reduced when the_ question comes before the council nex't month. Ragwort Menace. Cr Nlckie thought the local inspectors should be written to drawing their attention to single plants of ragwort growing on farms. Crs. Nlckie and Pohlen both emphasised the need for attention to isolated plants and patches. A small amount of work at present would save endless trouble later on. It was agreed lo write to 111 c inspectors. 'Phe clerk was instructed to arrange j for a meeting of county delegates to j discuss methods of eradication of rag- j wort. Crs Anderson and White were j appointed to attend the meeting as ; delegates. ! A motion to donate 115 towards the '■ cost of erection of a rest room at Pularuru was negatived by six votes ; to three. I Committee’s Recommendations. The following recommendations of the Finance and Works Commit were adopted by (lie Council:—DC’dation. No. 19 Main Highway: Tho!, subject to the approval of the Slate I Advances Department, Mr S. A. .1. j Hamlin lie paid £2 as compensation for throe perches of land taken for j tho purposes of a public, road. Pub Road, Pularuru: That the re-j quest of Ihe Pularuru Town Roar t regarding further metalling of Ibis i road lie refused. i insurance, lorries and Dodge car: Thai the offer to reduce the francuise to £ I on each vehicle with an increase of 71 per cent in the premium he accepted. , Traffic Tallies. Traffic tallies recorded by I tie •m----gineer during the two weeks covering j the Christmas and New Year period I showed a daily average of 309 motor I vehicles through the Mamaku Bush, i against 253 in 1933 and 33 1 in 1932. J At Rich held the figures respectively j were I ip. t 10, 132. • in. Pic Kaimui Hill the figures were 1 :,3i and 374-