ERADICATING RAGWORT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17951, 1 December 1932, Page 7

ERADICATING RAGWORT

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

FREE LABOR AVAILABLE

(Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. “There is no real excuse for allowing the ragwort pest to overrun occupied farms,’' declared the Hon. U. h. Macmillan, Minister of Agriculture, in announcing a scheme for labor assistance for farmers. “A reliable agent for its destruction has been found,’’ added the Minister, “and while the labor is being supplied free of cost, surely the settlers can do the rest.” , „ , . . He indicated that the failure to take advantage of these conditions might mean prosecution. Setting out particulars of the scheme, the Minister said the Government real•ised the importance of mobilising labor for cleaning up ragwort on unoccupied areas, or on areas of which no use was being made, and a landowner would be supplied with labor by the Government on the following conditions: (1) By billeting men on farms, landowners to supply board and lodging and material; and (2) in districts where camps are m existence for unemployed men they wil be diverted for the time being for weed destruction, the landowners to supply transport and material. Where landowners were in good financial positions they should see that their land was kept clear of the weed froo of cost to the State. Where there were individuals whose financial position was such that they could not make the best use of any effective labor offered, county councils and other interested bodies might come to their assistance. “I fear that many individuals are not making as serious an effort in keeping the weed down as they might, but with ample labor available there is no excuse for hanging back.” added the Minister The Offer would hold good to the end of the present season. He advised farmers to go in for bulk nurchasing of sodium chlorate, but stated that tie Government did not have facilities for handling this chemical on a large scale