MENACE OF RAGWORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21616, 7 October 1933, Page 13

MENACE OF RAGWORT

WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED CROWN AND NATIVE LAND PROTEST AT TAURANGA [from our own correspondent] TAURANGA, Friday Noxious weeds were discussed at a meeting of the Tauranga Unemployment Committee to-day, when the Commissioner of Unemployment advised that the Unemployment Board had again decided to make labour available to farmers for the eradication of ragwort, on similar conditions to those which operated last year. Tho Hon. C. E. Macmillan, Minister of Agriculture, wrote: —"I note that you have written to the Minister of Employment recommending tho establishment of camps for tho purpose of dealing with ragwort on Crown and native lands during the coming summer. This proposal will no doubt receive consideration in connection with any scheme for the utilisation of unemployed labour by local authorities. "As regards your committee's request for the services of tho Government in any endeavour to effect a reduction in tho price of sodium chlorate, I may say that the Government has consistently endeavoured to ensure that the price of this product is kept as low as possible. From correspondence between myself and the Tauranga County Council your committee will no doubt be aware of my present efforts to arrange for the purchase by county councils at a price of 3d per lb." It was stated that the Tauranga County Council had purchased £IOO worth of sodium chlorate, which had cost about 6d per lb., and was sold to settlers at 3d per lb. Ragwort was now approaching the bloom stage, and action was urgent. Good results had been attained in attacking ragwort with sodium cldorate. The county engineer, Mr. A. H. Benham, said the council's inspector was collecting particulars in regard to infested lands and it was proposed to send out gangs of men to deal with ragwort in various areas. Mr. P. T. Keam said many settlers with badly infested lands had not the money to pay for labour or to buy sodium chlorate. The chairman, Mr. B. C. Robbins, contended that the Government should find its share of the cost of clearing Crown and native lands. He thought it would bo a good thing if the Unemployment Board would co-operate with the Crown lands and Native Departments in eradication of noxious weeds. Several speakers supported the chairman's remarks, and the following motion was carried:—"That the secretary communicate with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Lands, and the Native Minister, pointing out the serious nature of the ragwort menace on Crown and native lands; that this meeting views with alarm the laxity of Government departments in not having taken seasonable action in dealing with the menace in a comprehensive manner; and that this meeting emphatically urges the Government to supply the Tauranga County Council with sufficient sodium chlorate, free, to enable it to employ all available relief labour in attacking the menace."