LABOUR SCARCE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3125, 29 May 1942, Page 5

LABOUR SCARCE

CLEARING NOXIOUS WEEDS POSITION ON PLAINS RAGWORT TO BE DEALT WITH The shortage of labour is having the effect of reducing the amount of blackberry which is being cleared on the Hauraki Plains although the farmers generally are doing their best, reported the Noxious Weeds Inspector, Mr W. Chapman to the monthly meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council.

The report added: — “'During the month I have visited 183 farms in various parts of the county in connection with blackberries. During the month I sent out ten notices in connection with blackberries and most of these have been attended to.”

Mr F. Pinchess complained that the blackberries were still spreading up the Canal road at Waitakaruru and he asked that Mr 'Chapman deal with the matter. The blackberries were on the roadside.

Mr C. W. Schultz said blackberries can be found in a number of places on the roadside in the county. Both in the drains and on the roadside blackberry was spreading.

Mr W. E. Hale agreed with Mr Schultz that blackberry was spreading in the county, especially on the roadside and in the drains. He contended that in a few years’ time the roadsides would be covered. Mr Schultz said he did not think the ragwort question was being dealt with properly. At present the farmers were not notified to cut ragwort till it flowered, then it seeded and spread before it was finally dealt with.

He urged that the county be inspected at present when the grass

is short and the plants could eas-

ily be seen. If the ragwort was v dealt with before it flowered better results would be achieved. Mr D. G. McMillan protested against the action of farmers in throwing ragwort flowers on the roadway hoping that passing traffic would kill the plants. The hot roadway merely assisted the maturing of the ■seed.

The inspector was instructed to deal with the ragwort problem in the next few months.