RAGWORT NOT CUT

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 68, 25 March 1929, Page 5

RAGWORT NOT CUT

SETTLERS IN COURT.

SMALL FINES INFLECTED.

George Ritchie, Sarah Ann Smith, Alex. McMullian, Chas. T. Cole and David S'. Maxwell, appeared at the Stratford Magistrate's Court this morning before Mr R. W. Tate, S.M., »n charges of failing to clear their land of ragwort. McMullian was. lined 40/- and costs 10/-. The others were fined 10/-, with costs 12/-, the S.M.- holding that they hail done what they could to get their land clear. •

Ritchie forwarded a letter saying that as he could not' make a living on his farm he did work on the roads. His wife and children had cut some weeds, and he had also done some, cutting between 6 "and 9 p.m. ) VAML NOT PAYING. : The inspector of Stock, W. Harris, in evidence, said Ritchie's property was. too, Wg fort him to look after, if he worked on the roads. His place was covered with ragwort. As regards Mrs Smith, most of the weed was cut on January 25th, but some was still uncut on February 7th. ►" Mr Macalister, who appeared for Mrs Smith, said he was instructed 'that all the weed was cut by January 25th. The S.M.: In any case, is not January very late? . : The Inspector said that was so, and mentioned further that it was anoffence to have the v*ed in flower. Cases were now brought under the ActJ of 1928, which' laid-it down that prosecutions must follow. if the weed was not cut within three weeks of the serving of notice. He had to inspect 4000 properties each yeart and therefore could not make many visits to each. 'Mr Macalister said it seemed to foe merely a technical breach. Only a little of the weed was left on the Inspector's second visit The S.M.: It is that little piece which Kives all the seed &* the ne - xt season. A, DRY STOCK FARM, McMullian, said the Inspector, usually ran dr y stock on his place. On January sth it was a mass bf ragwort. He was asked to put .sheep 1 on out of consideration for his neighbours, but said sheep were too dear. Cole's was a very bad place, and he doubted if. Cole could keep it in order no matter how hard he tried. It was a rough place and >lhe mower could not be used. The ragwort was among the fern, and to get at the ragwort the fern had to be cut also. Cole said he had been cutting ragworth till he was sick of it. His wife had milked the cows for some . time, so that he could get along with .the,weeds after doing a day's harvesting. He was farming 480

acres. The Inspector, said that in Maxwell's case mosjfc&g the cutting wa£ done after the notice. The S.M. said everybody except McMullian seemed to be the victim of circumstances, the weeds must be dealt witk, even though great difficulty was created. Nominal fines would therefore be inflict'.ed, except in the case of McMullian. This was being dene because defendants seemed to have done what was possible. However, the obliga tion to get rid of the weed remained, and means must be devised of get'-, , ting the w»rk done.