GOVERNMENT HELP ASKED

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 37, 15 February 1929, Page 4

GOVERNMENT HELP ASKED

THE RAGWORT MENACE. The Waitotara County Council has addressed the following letter to Mr W. J. Poison, M.P.: I am directed to bring under your notice a menace that is seriously threatening the pastures of the Dominion in many localities, that is the nexious weed known as Ragwort or Ragweed. A deputation waited on my Council at the last meeting and stressed the seriousness of the growth of this weed' particularly in the WanganCil River district. It was stated that one settler had lost 400 lambs out of GOO lambs through eating ragwort. A s you are aware the weed in question is a noxious weed throughout the Dominion, and if the Department of Agriculture enforces the Act properly many settlers will suffer hardship. It is respectfully suggested that a» President of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, yon approach the Hon. Minister for Agrculture and suggest that the Department put on suitable men to cut the weed before seeding time on all Crown lands, scenic reserves, etc., and also to assist farmers who are unable to employ labour for this purpose. The Local Bodies should, of course, attend to all roads and public reserves under their control.”