CONTROL OF RAGWORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22398, 20 April 1936, Page 11

CONTROL OF RAGWORT

NEW SYSTEM WANTED VIEWS OF LOCAL BODIES [BY TKLKGRAFH- OWN COKRESPOXDKNI ] GISBORNE, Saturday The conference of local bodies 6f the Wairoa Gisborne and East Coast districts to-day passed . the following motion for the control of ragwort:— "That legislation be provided this session so that the control of noxious weeds, particularly ragwort, may bo taken over by rabbit boards and subsidised by the Government in the saine manner as for the control of rabbits. Mr. W. G. Sherratt (Cook County Council) said that the Raglan County had paid out ,£3645 to fight ragwort last year, and counties in this district should come to some arrangement to combat its spread here. The councils should work in conjunction with the Government in formulating some scheme to rombat it. He suggested that the county councils might have to strike a small rate to do the work. Mr. H. J. F. Tonibleson (Waikohu Valley) said that many farmers in his county had cut twice as much ragwort as ever before, but some refused to do anything. He suggested that a rate should be struck, because control of tlie pest was getting beyond the private man.

Mr Sherratt moved that ragwort and other noxious weed eradication should be taken over by county councils, which should be given power to levy a rate and appoint inspectors. The Mavor of Wairoa. Mr. H. L. Harker, suggested .that the Rrtbbit Board should take over. The work it had done in keeping the district clear of rabbits was outstanding and it should be able to handle the ragwort question in the district, which was approximately the same as that represented by the delegates present. This suggestion was agreed to by the conference.