REEFTON RAGWORT CONTROL IN COUNTY: FARMERS ASKED FOR VIEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1950, Page 3

REEFTON RAGWORT CONTROL IN COUNTY: FARMERS ASKED FOR VIEWS

(Special Reporter) REEFTON, This Day.—The Inangahua branch of Federated Farmers is .to be asked to submit definite proposals for the control and eradication of ragwort in the county. This decision was reached at this week’s meeting of the Iriangahua County Council when letters were received from* the Department of Agriculture and Federated Farmers on the subJ The chairman. Cr P. J. O’Regan, pointed out that the council had been granted £4OO by the department for the control of the weed but the council had jurisdiction only over unoccupied land and could not proceed on to. private land. . “Has the council authority to make farmers clear their land.?” asked Cr W. H. McAlpine. The council’s actions were confined to unoccupied land the the only action in. cases , instanced by the speaker could be taken by the inspector of noxious weeds, stated the chairman.. , , Thousands of acres of Crown land were covered with ragwort, commented Cr G. Williams, who contended that the best method of dealing with the menace, was to give the money to the farmers and allow the Crown lands to go untouched. It was impossible to spray the weed with any good effect,. stated Cr W. Blackadder. If the council was to assist the farmers who were Willing to attempt to control it on their own land some good might be obtained. “It is only a waste of public money to try to control ragwort on Crown land,” he claimed. A suggestion that the money be allocated to farmers for the control 1 of the weed outside their boundaries was put forward by Cr R. Yellowlees, this being supported by Cr F. W. Archer.

He would not be a. party to the abuse of any Government money by allocating this grant to the farmers, stated Cr J. E. Etheridge. Cr Yellowlees, however, went on to say that the department should be advised of the council’s intention to allocate the money to farmers to control the weed outside their boundaries and ask if there was any ob--j ection to this scheme. After further discussion, Cr J. J. Coghlan moved, and it was carried, that the Inangahua branch of Federated Farmers be asked to submit definite proposals on the control of the weed.