LITTLE LABOUR

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32412, 27 March 1944, Page 3

LITTLE LABOUR

PLAINS DRAIN CLEANING FEW TENDERS RECEIVED FARMERS WILL HAVE TO HELP “ The problem will be to get men to go into the drains this year,” commented the chairman, Mr C. W. Parfitt, at Thursday’s meeting of the Hauraki West Drainage Board when referiing to the serious shortage of labour in the district at present, especially as far as drain cleaning was concerned. For the 59 drains for which tenders were called recently, only seven tenders were received. “It looks as though the farmers will have to get out and do some drain cleaning,” remarked the chaiiman after the few tenders had been read. Other members agreed that if settlers wanted the drains cleaned they would have to come to the aid of the board. Mr F. Pinchess said the farmers were to-day employing labour to do their internal drains and would not therefore be very interested in doing the board’s drains. The chairman said the fact that many of the former men who did the drain cleaning were to-day without gumboots was responsible for the lack of interest in the work. Mr Pinchess said the board would have to go in for a machine to do the work. The chairman remarked that machinery could not handle all the diains the board had to handle. Drains To Be Cleaned Drains which the board was able to let were: — South side Hopai road from floodgate to the Ngatea-Pipiroa road, 130 chains, Mr G. Ivankovich. Paul-Leonard drain'from outlet to Ngatea-Pipiroa road, 48 chains. —Left in the hands of Mr A. Douglas. Orchard West drain, both sides, from outlet to Ngatea-Pipiroa road, 79 chains.—Mr G. Pennell. Orchard West drain, both sides from Ngatea-Pipiroa road to western boundaries of Section 17, 150 chains.—Mr G. Pennell. , Orchard West road, both sides, fiom western boundary of section 17 to Pauarau road, south side, 140 chains. —Mr G. Pennell. Phillips’ road, north side from outlet to Clark’s far boundary, 104 —Left in hands of Mr A. T. McClean. Phillips’ road from Clark’s far boundary to a point five chains from Pauarua .road, 66 chains. —Left in the hands of Mr T. A. McClean. The drains in the Puhanga Island sub-division were left in the hands of Mr McClean to let. Kaihere road drain from Ngatea bridge to Hayward’s.—Mr H. Paul. Maukoro canal road west side from school corner to Gulbb’s outlet, 215 chains.—Mr J. McGaffin. West side, Ngatea-Pipiroa road, centre section from Hopai road to Rawe Rawe road, 70 chains.—Mr G. Ivankovich. West side Ngatea-Pipiroa, south section from Davidson’s drain culvert to Orchard West road, 89 chains. —Mr J. Ivan. It was decided to leave the letting of the rest of the drains to the area members. The chairman said that if tenders could not be obtained the board would have to call a meeting of settlers and appeal to them to assist the board in getting the drains cleaned. Mr Pinchess said that if the labour was not available the drains would have to be left.