MENACE TOO GREAT

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32517, 15 December 1944, Page 5

MENACE TOO GREAT

POA AQUATICA ON PLAINS PROHIBIT THE PLANTING COUNTY COUNCIL CONCERNED “In the absence of practical methods of control, it is felt that no good purpose would be served by adding this plant to the Second Schedule of the Noxious Weeds Act,” stated the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture regarding poa aquatica in a letter to the December meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council. . . “There are no known practical means of controlling poa aquatica. Thio plant can cause a considerable amount of damage to a drainage system and involve local bodies, and farmers m a considerable amount, of extra work in keeping such a system open It is, however, useful in providing fod„ der for maintenance and feeding of cattle and for feeding dairy cows in undrained swampy areas of land, stated) the letter. The chairman, Mr C. W. Parfitt, asked whether a regulation could be

passed l prohibiting the planting of poa aquatica in certain areas. Cr. D. G. McMillan said that-unless the river could be controlled there would always be trouble. The weed floated up and) down the river and came to rest in the outlets and then spread up the drains. Cr. W. H. Cheale said that a Netherton farmer had recently planted poa aquatica. The wild duck were largely responsible for the weed spreading.

Councillors agreed that the menace wasi too great to let the matter rest and it was decided to again write to the Minister asking him to prohibit the planting of poa aquatica in the Hauraki Plains County.