Employment of personnel for local authorities : a comparative analysis of the existing system in South African cities with special reference to professional employees

Includes bibliographical references.The value judgements of senior officials in the five largest local authorities in South Africa were considered to influence personnel policy. Employment in a municipality was viewed as a special class of employment with specific public personnel management and professional considerations. First round delphi ranking and weighting scenarios were conducted with forty-five senior officials using focussed interviews. Results of the questionnaire were descriptively analysed on a privilege-communication base. There was significant agreement, certainty and consistency among senior officials of different professions for attracting and maintaining professional staff in local government. Job satisfaction was ranked the highest factor. Management terminology was preferred to administration. A co-ordinated interdependent personnel function was needed. Greater use should be made of emerging semi-professionals or technicians. More delegation to officials resulted in an increased public scrutiny

Leptohylemyia coarctata (Fall.) - Integrated control and the use of economic thresholds 1

Abstract Yields of crops attacked by wheat bulb fly can be predicted, but this cannot be done until much damage has occurred. In this situation the concept of economic thresholds is of limited use. It is much more important to be able to predict the likelihood of infestations as this enables the correct use to be made of prophylactic seed dressings. This and other approaches to integrated control are discussed

Effect of formulation on toxicity to plants and insects of some systemic insecticidal seed dressings

Abstract Wheat, mustard and sugar beet seeds were treated with dressings containing certain systemic insecticides and various stickers and fillers. Activated carbon, polyvinyl acetate emulsion and a chlorinated diphenyl resin lessened the toxicity of the insecticides to seedlings grown in sand. Polyethylene glycol ethers and polyvinyl alcohol solution also had some effect. Carbon and polyvinyl acetate prolonged the period of systemic action of ?Thimet? against the mustard beetle Phaedon cochleariae F. and the bird-cherry aphid Rhopalosiphum padi (L.). Mustard plants grown from seed treated with ?-BHC formulated with these materials were slow to attain their maximum insecticidal activity. These effects are attributed to the initial absorption of insecticide by the sticker or filler and its subsequent slow release. Formulations permitting the slow release of insecticides have a practical use because they can combine low phytotoxicity with a long persistence of systemic insecticidal activity