ATTACKING RAGWORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21934, 18 October 1934, Page 13

ATTACKING RAGWORT

NEW CONTROL SYSTEM POWER TO COUNTY COUNCILS ADMINISTRATION OF ACT [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Intensification of the campaign against ragwort is provided for in the Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill, notice of which was given in the House of "Representatives to-day by the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, Minister of Agriculture. The measure, it is believed, is designed to meet the alarming situation resulting from the serious spread of ragwort in certain areas of the. North Island, notably Taranaki and South Auckland. This situation has revealed weaknesses in the present legislation, and moreover, it is found that the staff of the Department of Agriculture is unable to give the necessary attention to individual property owners. Almost all the county councils in the districts mentioned have conferred and have urged the Government to give them power to administer the Act and appoint inspectors. This bill jvill, it is stated, confer that p®wer. County councils will also be given power to do the work of clearing ragwort from infested areas and to charge the land with the cost. They will also be enabled to levy rates to cover administrative costs. The requirements of the Act are altered in this bill so that adequate treatment of the weed with sodium chlorate will be regarded as a sufficient means of dealing with it. The existing legislation did not contemplate the use of this specific, and property owners were required to cut or grub out ragwort.