THE RAGWORT PEST

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 60, Issue 4235, 24 January 1940, Page 7

THE RAGWORT PEST

POSITION IN OTOROHANGA COUNTY. SETTLERS’ OBLIGATIONS. The vexed question of ragwort growth and control measures was the subject of very considerable consideration at the monthly meeting of the Otorohanga County Council yesterday, writes our resident representative. Despite the past activities of rag-wort-clearing gangs throughout the county area, the plants are still growing freely on many holdings and on roadways. Concern was expressed at the proposed action of the Government in withdrawing the present system of State assistance by the provision of labour gangs. Crs Wallis and Simms were of the opinion that farmers should do \ more themselves to keep their properties free of the weed. It was decided to instruct the noxious weeds inspector, Mt Noel Smith, to circularise all landowners within the county, notifying them that their properties and road frontages must be kept free of ragwort, otherwise prosecution would follow. * The inspector reported that when work closed for the Christmas holidays 35 men were discharged, which meant closing Korakonui and Maihiihi camps and putting off one gang working from Otorohanga. The present gang would not be operating had it not been for the generosity of the Wiaipa County Council, which transferred practically half its remaining grant, amounting to .£BOO, to assist the Otorohanga county. At present there were fifteen men working on ragwort eradication in the county of Otorohanga.