NASSELLA AT ASHLEY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29553, 30 June 1961, Page 6

NASSELLA AT ASHLEY

Ranging Of State Forest Inspecting the Ashley State Forest over 16 days, a ranger found 57 old nassella tussocks on hall an acre of a firebreak, 210 plants on one acre of roadside boundary and river flat, and 100 scattered plants over about 300 acres, it was reported to yesterday’s meeting of the North Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board. Members expressed their concern that the weed was spreading further around towards Raragiora. North-west winds could drive the seed back across yet uninfested land. The chairman (Mr T. G. Maxwell) said a tussock had been pulled up on the roadside at Cust During discussion of reports rangers had made on properties inspected during the month, Mr R. S. Shearer criticised the use of rangers to do grubbing that could be done by the farmer. “Some farmers are Just leaning on the board and the rangers,” he said. “Rangers appear to me to be just glorified grubbers,” Mr Shearer said that rangers AouM not have to grub tussock on flat land. On hiQ country the ranger grubbed odd tussocks which would be hand to find again. Members said that provision had been made for grubbing done by rangers to be charged for where it appeared excessive.