ERADICATING RAGWORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21347, 23 November 1932, Page 7

ERADICATING RAGWORT

PROPOSAL AT TAURANGA

UTILISING RELIEF LABOUR

CONCERTED EFFORT PLANNED

[by telegraph—own correspondent] TAURANGA, Tuesday

A definite move to deal with the ragwort menace was made at Tauranga this morning, when members and officers of tho County Council conferred with Mr. H. Watkinson, district engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr. 0. McBrine, investigating officer of the Unemployment Board, and Mr. M. Watt, inspector of stock. After discussion a resolution, prepared by the county clerk, Mr. H. Lewis, was unanimously adopted, "That representations be made immediately through tho Hon. C. E. Macrnillan, Minister of Agriculture, to the Unemployment Board on the following lines: That.it is absolutely essential that work should commence immediately on the eradication of ragwort; that treatment with sodium chlorate is considered too indefinite, as supplies are not available, and cutting is the only alternative, sodium chlorate would be used where fanners had supplies; that the Unemployment Board be asked to issue authority to the council to employ all relief workers in the county for a continuous period, of four weeks. "Supervision and transport are estimated to cost £SOO, and slashers will require to be A Government grant is required for the cost of supervision."

The county clerk communicatad with Mr. Macmillan and conveyed the text of ths conference resolution "to him. The Minister promised to lay the question before the Unemployment Board and advise Mr. Lewis of the result on the fol-

lowing day. It was agreed that as soon as a reply v.as received from Mr. Macmillan the county clerk he authorised to take steps to place the question before councillors for immediate action.

During the discussion Mr. Benham, county engineer, said that the mobilising of all relief men in the county and borough continuously as proposed Would mean increasing the Unemployment Board allocation from about £3OO to £SOO a week, and the transport - and supervision would also cost an additional £SOO for the period. DIFFICULTIES OF SETTLERS MATAMATA PROTEST SUPPORTED [FROM OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENT} PUKEKGHE. Tuesday Instances of increases in the price of all the chief materials used in the destruction of rabbits were 'given by the Matamata County Council ill a circular received by the Franklin County Council yesterday. The Matamata Council pointed out that the increases had taken placo during the past year, and asked for support for a protest to the Government. The Franklin Council endorsed the protest.

It was also decided to support -the Matamata Council in its representations that the campaign against ragwort b* made a national matter, as the control of the weed had proved beyond settlers' means individually.

It was. explained that the Agricultural Department's inspector was kept infomied by the Franklin Council .of cases of ragwort making its appearance in Franklin.

The Ma'nukau County Council complained that ragwort was spreading from the Hnnua district, in the Franklin County, to the Manukau County and advised that an inspection was to be mads this week in company with a departmental officer. Mr. J. Matheson was appointed to represent the Franklin Council with the inspecting party. -

FORMATION OF BOARDS

OPINION IN WAIPA COUNTY

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT]

TE AWAMUTU, Tuesday

The formation of ragwort boards oil similar lines to rabbit boards was advocated by several members at to-day's meeting of the Waipa County Council. One member remarked that the Government had failed to realise the seriousness of the problem that would develop. The country was rapidly being smothered in ragwort and now that hard times had come the farmers could not afford to buy the requisite sodium chlorate}, even if unemployed labour was made available to apply it. > Mr. E. F. Peacocke said that as ragwort grew and flowered for about seven months of the year he could not see how relief workers could effectively deal -with it. Sheep should be put on all unused areas to eat down- the plants before they flowered. Sodium chlorate would clean partly-affected lands; Many farmers had only themselves to blame, for they had neglected the menace in its early stages. Mr. S. C. Macky, chairman, said a great deal could be done to lessen the menace l>v employing relief workers. Members agreed that ragwort boards similar to rabbit boards were desirable.