RAGWORT DISAPPEARING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22984, 11 March 1938, Page 12

RAGWORT DISAPPEARING

HAURAKI PLAINS AREA GOOD WORK OF SETTLERS [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT]! NGATEA, Thursday The Hauraki Plains County Council's noxious weeds inspector, in his report to the council meeting yesterday, said he had visited 328 farms during the mouth and most of the ragwort was now cleared up, although there ivere still isolated bunches. The settlers had been very helpful in their assistance. A strong effort was being made to eliminate blackberry, and settlers were co-operating all over the county to keep the growth in check. The Kerepeehi Island block was now totally freo. SPREADING BY STOCK ISSUING OF CERTIFICATES [from OUR OWN correspondent} HAMILTON. Thursday "If the Department of Agriculture will not go any further with the matter 1 think the county should go ahead with it," said Mr. H. W. Wilson, chairman, when a letter was received from the department at a meeting of the Raglan County Council, stating that the council's recommendation that certificates should bo issued to guarantee that sheep were off ragwort-free country had been noted, but that such a step'was fraught with practical difficulties. , , Mr. Wilson added that the council s suggestion for ensuring that ragwortinfected stock must bo certified when sold was ono of the best moves ever taken and, if the department was going to hold up the matter over practical difficulties, it was for the county to take the matter up without cognisance of the department's view. After discussion, the county s noxious weeds inspector was empowered to issue certificates in respect of stock fiom farms in the county. ROTORUA DISTRICT WORK OF COUNTY COUNCIL [by telegraph—own CORRESPONDENT"!I ROTORUA, Thursday As a result of an intensified drive toward the eradication of ragwort carried out in the Rotorua district h.v the Rotorua County Council, with the assistanco of special grant made by* the Government, most of the more thicklyinfested areas, particularly Crown and native property, have been dealt with during the past 12 months, and the district is now freer of ragwort than it has been for many years. During the 12 months ten men have been employed almost continuously on the work of spreading sodium chlorate, the amount of Government grants expended being already £1763. The work has now been completed for the present financial year, but it is hoped that the grants will ho renewed by the Government. / V