Ragwort Prosecutions

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 74, 28 March 1936, Page 12

Ragwort Prosecutions

Evidence that the Department of Agriculture is in earnest in its endeavour to stamp out ragwort, is afforded from prosecutions lately being mado upon land-owners who fail to destroy this noxious weed.

Only last week, eight prosecutions wero mado in the Manawatu, four each at Foxton and Levin Courts.

Fines varying from £1 to £5, plus costs, were imposed by the Magistrate. The Foxton cases came from Rangiotu, Mangawhata and Marotiri and were instituted by the Manawatu Rabbit Board. The Levin cases came from Ihakara, described as a “ storm-ceutre ” of ragwort, by Mr. Denizics, the stock inspector who conducted the prosecutions.

Commenting upon the charges aud the pleas put forth by defendants, tho Magistrate reminded property-owners that the Department of Agriculture subsidises sodium chlorate supplies so that they may be cheaply available to farmers.

Quite a number of the cases were cited as second offenders.

Cutting Not Sufficient. In several cases property-owners pleaded that they had cut their ragwort. This is not sufficient work, under the Act. The prosecution had gone to the trouble of obtaining seed from cut flower-stalks, that had developed ou the stalk after cutting. This had been tested and shown a high percentage of germination. It may be pointed out to propertyowners that tho Department is not bound to send forth, notices to them to eestroy ragwort. Such notices as arc served as purely courtesy reminders. The position is that any propertyowner neglecting to deal effectively with ragwort is liable to without warning.