FAILURE TO CLEAR RAGWORT

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1735, 1 June 1936, Page 5

FAILURE TO CLEAR RAGWORT

BUCKLAND ROAD CASE

Dismissed by Magistrate

That defendant had taken reasonable - steps ito tdear his property of ragwort was the view Mr. S. L. Paterson, .S.M., took in the Matamata Court after hearing • a charge preferred against H. Harrison, of Hinuera, by the ragwort inspector to the Matamata County Council, that between June 24 and November 18, 1935, Harrison had failed to clear his property of ragwort. Mr. A. L. Mason (Putaruru) appeared for the County Council, and Mr. J. Buchanan (Matamata) represented Harrison. The defendant, H. Harrison, of Buckland road, said his farm had been abandoned to the Crown for some time before he took it up. The farm was infested with ragwort, which had spread more since he cut -the fern. The Buckland road area, was infested, and farmers had to go Lin for sheep. He had cleared about -150 acres With a scythe. Since taking. the farm he had done little else but mow ragwort and repair fences. Witness said that after mowing he raked the cuttings into, heaps and burned them. In. addition he used 2cwt of sodium and two tons of lime. He considered he,had got the better of the" ragwort. He had worked in all' weather and had bprrowed hofses to draw his mower. He had been able to run only eight cows and a lew dry stock.. The agent for -the Mortgage Corporation and the district valuer had suggested. that the farm might be used as an experimental farm. •*' . Cross-examined, witness said he had ploughed ,14 acres of ragwort. Sheep were mot on. the property last spring... Witness admitted that -the sodium , had given poor results. He had done the area, twice ■ and still had little result. Mowing simply delayed the tirpe: of-..flowering. Much of the ; area had been cut three times. If he- had been- better placed financially he would have used more so•dium. . ■ -- - -•’ Counsel for - defendant submitted that it was a Case for reasonableness in interpretation. Defendant was in reality a caY6taker, ! ‘ and had done aiP hie ctiuld to combat the ragWdrt. Counsel, suggested that the case should be dismissed; -: The. magistrate said that, having, regard to all the circumstances, the Work done and defendant’s resources, he thought everything possible had been done, so hb dismissed thecase/ ’ ~ '