NOXIOUS WEEDS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 60, Issue 4234, 22 January 1940, Page 4

NOXIOUS WEEDS

CONTROL WORK IN WAIPA COUNTY. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. In his report to to-day meeting of the Waipa County Council, Mr G. M. Wall, noxious weeds inspector, said that the month of January is always a difficult one as regards ragwort and this year has not been an exception, for the season, the holidays and an early harvesting have all clashed with the main flowering period. The three gangs of approximately thirty-six men resumed work on the Bth inst., and have been exceptionally busy trying to catch up on the leeway gained during the holidays. The sales for the month from the depot are:—Sodium chlorate, 10 cwt; sodium and lime mixture, 33 tons 8 cwt. . During the month we were approached by the Otorohanga County asking us to assist them financially out of our Government allocation. It appeared that they had expended their own insufficient allocation, and all appeals to the Government for further funds has failed. From this it would look as if the Government is thinking of dropping the scheme. A definite statement as to the future policy is necessary, for there are many farmers who will not be able to carry on dairying as extensively as they do if the scheme* is stopped. It is hoped to make a start with the spraying of blackberry along the drains next month, and although time has not permitted an inspection of last year’s work, various settlers have told me that there is a big decrease in the quantity of blackberry. COMMENT. Cr Onion said it was very encouraging to note the scarcity of flowering ragwort in the county. This was a tribute not only to the Council and its inspector, but also to the increased interest of farmers who now realise the danger of allowing ragwort to spread. However, there were a few careless farmers wffio might be called “hardy annuals,” in the matter of neglect of their obligations, and these men should be compelled to do their share of clearing. One careless farmer was a menace to all his neighbours. The Council had been Very tolerant, but the time had come when it was desirable and necessary to institute Court prosecutions. That seemed to be the only fair and effective way. He was very proud of the success already achieved in Waipa, which was the envy of some other counties. Cr Church said he was fully in accord. Cr Livingstone, in support, said that cessation of control measures

would result in a tremendous area becoming re-infested in three or four years. The County Council must keep up its control work. Cr Maeky said that in his district much good work had been done, but there were a few careless settlers who each year allow a few plants to propagate the seeds. Cr Livingstone said the Department should take action to convince all farmers that plants must not be allowed to flower.

Cr Clarke suggested that the ragwort clearing gang should be kept at work during the holiday season, and given their holiday at a later date. His point was that the fortnight at Christmas and New Year was a period when very much more good would result than at any other time of the year. The inspector corrected a suggestion that the ragwort gang would or could be secured for particular farms. His policy was to put the men on to lands where the ragwort could not be controlled by the farmer. In the past he had found the scheme working very satisfactorily. To a question, Mr Wall said there were some properties in Waipa County that would require close attention for some years yet. However, he had the impression that the Government was contemplating abandonment of the system of subsidising local bodies for ragwort control. This, he felt sure, Would be a great mistake.

Councillors expressed the view that the Government, or rather the Minister of Agriculture, knew what good work had been done and would not seriously consider curtailment of a plan that had achieved so much national good in maintaining and increasing production.