THE RAGWORT MENACE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 20 April 1935, Page 7

THE RAGWORT MENACE

EGMONT FARMERS IN COURT RAPID SPREAD OF THE WEED SERIOUHNESS EMPHASISED

“I belieA*e that, in order to check the trouble, national action aaoulc! have to be taken. The mere imposition of fines will never mend matters.” These remarks Avere made by : the Magistrate, Mr W. H. Woodward, S.M., at Opunake on Thursday Avhen eight charges of failing to clear land of ragwort were preferred against farmer residents of the district.

The prosecutions Avere conducted by the Noxious Weeds inspector, Mr H. W. Lambic, and penalties ware entered as follows: Charles T. Magon, £3 (12s costs); Norman Simpson, £3 (12s costs); S. W. Beer, £3 (12s costs); W. J. Gilmer, £3 (12s costs); Wi Puke, £3 (8s costs); Rahui Murray, avlio had been preA'iously competed of a similar offence, £5 (12s costs); Thomas Fleming, £3 (10s- costs) on each of two charges.

Charles Magon Avas the first defendant called. He stated that his section in respect of which the charge was laid, adjoined CroAvn and Maori lands Avliich Avere coA'ered Avith ragAvort. A feAV years ago defendant could have cleared his land of ragwort in a feAV days. Noav it could not be cleared in three years. Defendant had spent a great deal of money in: trying to clear the land. This year he had eight men Avorking on tne land since the beginning of Novem-I ber. At least three men had been, continually cutting ragwort and the others had been engaged in the Avork; at intervals.

The inspector stated w’ork had been done on two other sections OAA’ned by defendant. No Avork had been done on the section referred to in the charge, an area of 178 acres. He had put 75 sheep on the property, replied Magon, and no less than 60 of these sheep had died. Eighteen coavs and heifers had also died, all from ragAvort poisoning.

The country adjoining defendant’s property had been ragwort-infested for years. He adopted spraying, pulling and burning methods to keep down the ragwort on his oAvn land. He also ran sheep and dry stock as Avell as milking 90 coaa's on the total area of his farm, 560 acres. At the present time he avus running 300 sheep on the section in an endeaA'Our tc keep doAvn the ragwort. The magistrate remarked that Magon had apparently tried to keep the ragAvort doAvn. He suggested that the inspector see if the Aveed Avhs being effectively controlled and that defendant be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon

The inspector explained that various weeds were a great trouble in the Egmont County and it was desirable that an example be made of any offenders.

Mr C. H. Croker, who appeared for three of the defendants, suggested that all the charges might he heard together since similar circumstances surrounded each. The control of noxious weeds and particularly ragwort, was a question which had been exercising the minds of members of the farming community and of the Government, said Mr Croker, addressing the court. The weed had spread until it had become a national menace, infesting the whole of the Ndrth Island. Fortunately, it could be kept down in the sheep country. The past season lin'd been extraordinarily hot and dry, causing the ragwort so seed early and thus making it more difficult for farmers to cope with it.

Most of the defendants were poor men and they had their regular programme of stumping, ploughing anclj ordinary farm work to carry out. This! gave them litle time for clearing ragwort. One man had been helped by his sixteen-year-old daughter in the work of clearing ragworth. Unfortunately most of the defendants were not in a, position to afford labour, it being a financial impossibility for them to do so. Most of the defendants lived in tfie heart of the ragwort menace, said ivir Croker. It was impossible for the weed to be effectively dealt with without a subsidy. This year the position had been made exceptionally difficult since the ragwort had come forward in January before the sheep fairs were held and the farmers were able to buy sheep to stock their infested land. It was a financial impossibility for farmers to put sheep on their land earlier. Their practice was to buy. fiVe-year-old ewes at the fairs. If these sheep came off othei* ragwortinfested lands then it was likely tnat half of them would die. Unfortunately farmers could not know that the sheep had come off other ragwort land. The dairy farmers used these as working beasts merely to keep down the noxious weeds and not in expectation of profit. Undoubtedly, said Mr Croker. the best way of keeping ragwort in check was with sheep and sodium chlorate. The problem had to he dealt with on a national basis. This year sodium chlorate was unprocurable in this district for two months at the beginning of the year. This was the ease with hundreds of small farmers. These people were all in agony that ragwort might get the better of them. However, they had been up against a set of circumstances with which they could not possibly cope. In view of all the circumstances Mr Croker respectfully asked that Hie defendants might be convicted and discharged.

The trouble was that the farmers did not make a sufficiently early start with clearing the ragwort, said Mr Lambie. Other farmers could keep their places reasonably clean and de-

fendants should be able to do likewise.

He realised the hardships under which farmers were labouring in tliis’ matter, said the magistrate. How-; ever, he also realised The seriousness of a further spread of the ragwort menace. lie would enter penalties as; stated.