THE RAGWORT PEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22709, 23 October 1935, Page 15

THE RAGWORT PEST

USE OF SODIUM CHLORATE - SAFER CHEMICAL DESIRABLE (Fkqai Oub Pakuamentary Retortee) WELLINGTON, October 22. The desirability of using some safer chemical than sodium chlorate in the efforts to eradicate the ragwort pest was stressed by Mr Broadfoot in an urgent question addressed to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr C. E. Macmillan, in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Broadfoot pointed out that there had been several fatalities and numerous accidents through the use of sodium chlorate, which was recognised as a dangerous explosive. Some 600 tons of the chemical, carrying a Government subsidy of Id a pound, was used in New Zealand annually. Recently a substitute for it had been perfected by a British chemical firm, and, when tested by the Department of Agriculture, had been found to be as efficient as sodium chlorate and entirely safe to use. It was non-in-fiammable and nou-explosive and Mi Broadfoot asked if it would be allowed to carry the same subsidy as that extended to the use of sodium chlorate. The Minister replied that the relative merits of sodium chlorate and the new chemical had been the subject of experiment and inquiry by his department and it was intended to give further consideration to the question of a subsidy after some additional trials on a larger scale had been carried cut. These would include the use of the new chemical under field conditions as applied by farmers.