DAMAGE DONE BY CRICKETS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 57, Issue 3982, 16 April 1948, Page 5

DAMAGE DONE BY CRICKETS

PROBLEMS ON HAURAKI PLAINS CONTROL BOARD TO BE FORMED DECISION OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL The need for some assistance for farmers whose pastures have been ruined by the invasion of crickets on the Hauraki Plains and the desirability of the formation of a cricket board to handle the question of the elimination of this menace was stressed by a deputation from the Ngatea branch of Federated Farmers and the Ngatea sub-branch of the Paeroa-Hauraki R.S.A. which waited upon the April meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council. The deputation comprised Messrs R. E. Tye, C. H. Waite, F. L. Wallis and J. J. Mangan.

Mr R. E. Tye said that Federated Farmers and the R.S.A. were very concerned regarding the tremendous loss suffered during the past year by Hauraki Plains farmers as a result of the invasion of crickets. He traced the steps which were being taken by farmers to eliminate this menace, adding that while individual farmers were treating their own farms others were not doing anything and so defeating the campaign which was being conducted to eliminate crickets from the Hauraki Plains. He thought that the poisoning of crickets would be done on a district basis to get satisfactory results. Little Feed Left

He epoke of the many farmers who had suffered heavy losses as a result of crickets destroying their pastures and referred especially to servicemen just rehabilitated who had not the reserves to meet such a set-back. Many farmers had had to feed out almost all their hay and were now facing the winter with grave concern. He thought that the council could assist farmers in the bulk buying of the necessary poison to treat the crickets. Mr F. L. Wallis, representing the R.S.A., endorsed Mr Tye’s remarks, stressing the seriousness of the position which had arisen, especially as far as returned servicemen were concerned. The destruction of pastures by crickets had been serious indeed and he urged the council to investigate the question of the future supplies of poison for these pests as the possibility of a shortage had been mentioned to him. He pointed out that in the past rabbit poison had been made available to farmers free of cost to assist in the eradication of this pest and he thought the same should apply to the destruction of crickets.

Effect On Production

The depletion of the pastures by the crickets had had a serious effect on production, said Mr Wallis, and when the cry was for more and more butterfat such a loss was bad. Another- point raised by Mr Wallis was the possibility of' a subsidy being available for the regrassing of the paddocks ruined by , crickets. He urged that in very bad cases where farmers were up against it free grants should be made for the regrassing of their lands. The need for some assistance in the way of community grazing for farmers who had lost pastures through the crickets was also stressed by Mr Wallis, who pointed odt that where regrassing was necessary the stock could hardly remain on the farm. He had, he said, been in touch with Mr A. S. Sutherland, M. P. for Hauraki, regarding the destruction that had been done by the crickets and Mr Sutherland had promised to support any application to the Government which the county council might make. “Cricket Conscious” Mr J. J. Mangan also stressed the serious loss which had resulted from the cricket invasion, emphasising the menace which they were to the fut<*ure. He was, he said, pleased to find that farmers at last were getting “ cricket conscious.” Crickets, he said, depleted pastures on the Plains over a large number of years so that the grasses could not withstand the dry season just past. He said he thought the crickets had eaten the grass seed as well as the grass, with a result that the grass could not resow itself in the pastures. • He considered that if farmers used poison and killed the crickets the pasture* would soon regain their former condition. 4

He said he had read that a bullock consumed its own weight in grass

seven days, while a cricket consumed seven times its own weight in twentyfour hours and if this was true the seriousness of the position could be 4, fully appreciated.

Sawdust Used It was, he said, too late to do much this year regarding the elimination of the menace, as the eggs had already been laid, but if the job was tackled properly next year the campaign would soon show some effect. Mr C. H. Waite said that he had conducted several experiments regarding the elimination of crickets and had used sawdust instead of bran mixed with the poison. Unfortunately the cold weather Had arrived before he had completed the experiments. He thought that the whole of the Hauraki Plains affected by crickets should be declared a “ cricket area ” and a board formed to handle the destruction of same, similarly to rabbit boards. Some farmers, he said, were not very concerned regarding crickets, as they had not many on their farms, while other farms were almost eaten bare of grass. Area Affected The chairman, Mr C. W. Parfitt, asked what area would need to be controlled to make the scheme a success. Mr Waite said that the whole of the clay land from Netherton right across the Plains to the coast was affected by crickets. Mr Mangan gave an instance of a farmer who poisoned five acres in the centre of his property and when this was inspected not a live cricket could be seen while the rest of the farm I was thick with them. From this he said he gained the impression that crickets did not travel very far, but remained in their own locality. Cr. T. O’Carroll said that he had attended a meeting of farmers who had decided to form a cricket board which would control the whole area affected by crickets. Immediate Problems Cr. D. G. McMillan said the cricket menace was finished with for this year and the immediate trouble was the loss of pasture and the problems of regrassing affected lands. He said he thought the rehabilitated men would be assisted by the department and he asked that the names of all such men who had suffered loss be forwarded to the Paeroa Rehabilitation Office. He had, he said, seen cows grazing on the roadside at Kopuarahi, as there was no grass on the farm. x Mr Wallis said he knew of several farmers who had had their property eaten right out and they would like to get their cattle off their farms. The chairman said that the first question to be tackled was the securing of winter grazing for the stock and then the securing of grass seed for the pastures. A cricket board could then be set up to be ready to deal with the menace next year. So that the council could take up these questions with the Government through Mr Sutherland a list showing the land affected and the stock which needed grazing would have to be secured. The quantity of grass seed needed for the pastures would also be required. Survey of District Mr Wallis promised to make a survey of the Pipiroa area and report to the council. Crs. O’Carroll and A. H. Sutton were given authority to appoint committees to carry out similar surveys in the Kopuarahi and Turua t areas. The chairman then movefl that the council make application to the pro- ! pei' authorities for relief for grazing, supply of sei’d and the setting up of a cricket board. This was seconded by Cr. McMillan and carried. i The chairman stressed the fact that the information regarding I areas affected and cattle requiring grazing was needed urgently so e that tht applications to the e I Government could be made in ! time.