NOXIOUS WEEDS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 72, Issue 6244, 19 June 1946, Page 8

NOXIOUS WEEDS

INSPECTOR WALL’S REPORT POSITION IN KAIRANGI BLOCK The report of the noxious weeds inspector, Mr G. M. Wall, as submitted to Monday’s meeting of the Waipa County Council, read as follows: — This month there is not a great deal to report. The work of clearing the road frontages is still proceeding and in this connection a good deal of office work has been necessary. The supervisor of the Native Department has been interviewed in regard to the Waikeria Road, property, referred to at last meeting, and as a result I am hopeful that the ragwort will in future, be kept under control. The state of several properties on the Kairangi Block, as regards ragwort, has deteriorated to a stage where this Council, who has the responsibility of administering the Noxious Weeds Act, must take a definite stand. To that end the chairman, Councillor Garland, the engineer and myself met representatives of the Lands Settlement Department and the Bryant Settlement Society, and discussed the matter. Negotiations are still in hand, and the results will be reported on at a later date. There has been quite a demand for sodium and lime during the month, the sales from the depot being 19 tons 17cwt.

Taken in conjunction with the report was a letter received from the provincial district inspector, Department of Agriculture, that from information received by him all shipments of hay from south to north were the product of Canterbury and Marlborough Provinces where ragwort was almost non-existent. Therefore, the spread of ragwort from the above source was hardly likely. The writer stated that ragwort was not a noxious wieed within the meaning of the Noxious Weeds Act, 1928, in the County of Southland. That council some years ago declared it not to be a noxious weed.

In conclusion, it was stated that it was well recognised that there were many hundreds of acres of rag-wort growing in profusion in the Southland County but the Waipa Council could rest assured that the position wiould be closely Watched with a view to protecting the northern farm lands from infestation by ragwort. Cr Onion said it was something to have that assurance and as a result of the Council’s action, more care would be taken in future.

In reply to Cr Cunningham, Mr Wall said that the badly infested areas mentioned in the report were small sections.

The chairman, Mr Macky, said there were only four farms badly infested. The others were virtually clean. The report wias then adopted.