RAGWORT “YELLOW PERIL”

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1933, Page 8

RAGWORT “YELLOW PERIL”

MORE DRASTIC MEASURES.

CHEAP SODIUM CHLORATE URGED.

“I have not much progress to report as regards the noxious weeks menace and many settlers were far too late this season in making a start to clear weeds,” reported the inspector to the Eltham County Council on Saturday. “Where considered necessary notices are being sent giving a set time to remove the weeds. Failure to comply will have to be explained before a magistrate.” Cr. R. J., Knuckey supported the suggestion to have a set date for the clearing of ragwort. The chairman (Cr. A. L. Campbell) - pointed out that owing to some ragwort flowering late it would be difficult to fix a date.

“It would be desirable to have it done by the middle of January,” added Cr. Knuckey. “That would be too late in some cases,” declared Cr. M. W. Barker. Cr. Knuckey pointed out that the weed was more easily and quickly dealt with if treated in the early stages of growth. The chairman advocated putting on sodium chlorate in powder form as one of the easiest and cheapest methods of dealing with the weed where it was not too thick.

Cr. A. V. Messana said he believed the same plants continued to grow year after Year. One man in Eltham sprayed seven plants one year and the following year he had 70 to deal with. Cr. P, R. Brown: I have seen enough ragwort in seed this year to sow the whole of Taranaki. Cr. Messana: We shall have to take more drastic steps or we will be gone. The chairman: It Would be a good thing if the Government would supply cheap sodium chlorate to farmers. 1$ is now 7d a lb. Cr. C. E. McGuinness: But are we not supposed to get some benefit from the exchange? The chairman: That will be off next year.

Ragwort, the. chairman ‘ thought was one of the most serious things they had to face.

Mr. A. Tiplady (clerk): “The yellow periL” . ‘. • - Cr. Messana: It is the worst weed in existence.

Cr. W. E. Carter: A lot of the back country land should be given to people to keep in order. Cr. Knuckey: If they would take it. It was decided, on the chairman’s motion, to write to the Minister of Agriculture asking him to take steps to help' the unfortunate ‘farmers by the. supply of sodium chlorate at cheap rates. ELTHAM BEAT INGLEWOOD. SECOND ROUND COMMENCED. After being undefeated in the first round Eltham commenced the second round by defeating Inglewood by 117 to 105. Details of the match are:— E. I.

NON-COMPETITION BOWLING. STRATFORD DEFEAT AVON. Four rinks from the Stratford Bowling Club visited Avon on Saturday and won a npn-competition match by eleven points. Details are:— S. A.

STRATFORD WIN AVON STARS. As the result of a keen game played on the Avon bowling green on Friday evening the Avon stars have again changed hands and for the time being are in the keeping of Sutton, W. H. H. Young, Morris and Lyons, of the Stratford Club, who defeated the previous holders, Brown, von Sturmer jun., von Sturmer sen. and Clark by 28 to 20. A feature of the game was the scoring of eight points by Lyons’ team on the third head. ,

Mumby, McQueen, Brown, Casey 16 — Martin, Dunbar, Johnson, Maetzig — 27 Linn, Marx, Johnson, Harrison 16 - Henderson, Somerton, Smith, FSpurdie - 26 Bluett, Carman, Rowe, Clemow 27 — Curtis, E. Spurdie, Mulholland, Codd — 17 Franks, Peacock, Stewart, Tiplady 26 — A. Codd, Allen, Loach, G. Mason — 17 Stanners, Best, Astbury, Jones . 32 - — 18 ■ ■ 117 105

Tunnicliff, Wilson, Marsh, W. Ewing .. 23 — - 23 36 - Pettigrew, Hargreaves, Boundy, McCready Theo Skoglund, Hugo, Rudkin, Jenkin, Wright, Moss, Hardy Jones .. — 22 Clemow, Young, Porritt, S. EwIng 17 — Hill, Pennington, von Stunner, Clark . ........ — 25 Anderson, Nowell, Pellowe, Davis Coleman, Guthrie, Adams, North 30 - - 25 Totals 106 95