THISTLE SPREAD FEARED

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28314, 27 June 1957, Page 11

THISTLE SPREAD FEARED

Advance Across Rakaia

Concern at the spread of nodding thistle northwards across the Rakaia river was expressed by Mr A. Anderson (Ellesmere County) at a meeting of the group noxious weeds committtee of the Ellesmere, Halswell, Springs, Paparua and Malvern County Councils.

“The nodding thistle problem is worse than was first thought,” said Mr R. W. MacKenzie, field' supervisor to the committee. “I have found isolated plants ana have been told of others in all the five counties.” Mr MacKenzie said he did not, think farmers realised what the thistle was like. He suggested that a small illustrated leaflet might be prepared for inclusion with rate demands and that thei holding of farmers’ meetings by! councils would be helpful. “The control of this weed presents a real headache,” said Mr MacKenzie. “To date no spray is 1 available for a clean kill. I think that where infestation is light the grubber is the answer.’ Hardship Mr Anderson said that he believed it would be a hardship on farmers along the Rakaia river ; to control the thistle if they did not receive some help, but he was inclined to think that it would be a hopeless task to gel the Government to spray the thistle as it would set -a precedent for action over the whole country. Mr C. A. Campion said he die not think the Catchment Board would do anything on its reserves unless it was pressed.

Mr Anderson said that his council would be prepared to press. Mr W. E. Walker (Ellesmere) said he understood that 1600 ox 1700 acres were owned by the Crown.

Mr Anderson: I have told Mr Preston (Commissioner of Crown Lands) the Government was likely to be asked and he agreed that it was reasonable that we should do that. Mr Anderson said that a ratepayer close to the Rakaia river! had asked the Ellesmere County Council to call a public meeting of farmers tp discuss noxious weeds and, in particular, nodding thistle.

Mr Walker said that this proposal had beefi referred to two .groups of Federated Farmers

which had given their approval. The committee approved the holding of a meeting and it will also investigate the production of a leaflet dealing with the thistle. |