“A NATIONAL PROBLEM”

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1933, Page 19 (Supplement)

“A NATIONAL PROBLEM”

SERIOUS RAGWORT SPREAD FREE SODIUM CHLORATE SPRAY. FARMERS’ UNION DISCUSSION. The seriousness of the spread of ragwort was stressed by members of the North Taranaki provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union at New ; Plymouth yesterday, when it was decided to advocate the free supply of sodium chlorate by the Government. The opinion was expressed that many farmers were unable to afford to buy the spray and that the ragwort menace was one that was continually spreading. The position was a serious one and he did not know what was going to happen unless something was done, said Mr. A. Chapman. He thought the whole thing should be made a national matter. The more one considered the matter the more -difficult it seemed to be to apply any satisfactory remedy, said Mr. H. E. Blyde. If the menace were to be coped with successfully it would mean an enormous expenditure.

Mr. Chapman: It seems -the only way. Mr. Blyde said he was beginning to think the money would be ’ well spent but it would cost more on some land than tire land itself was worth. Good land, however, was fast being infested, and if the position was not watched the land would be spoilt. “We should ask the Government to take over control,” said Mr. Chapman. “I don’t think any merchant has a right to a farthing out of sodium chlorate.. If the spray were provided free it would be a little help, said Mr. Blyde. That was part of the problem, but some people would not use it unless they'were made to. Any lessening of ragwort would be profitable to the country,, and for that reason free sodium chlorate would be beneficial.

Good land was being sown every time a wind blew across the Parihaka Block, said Mr. L. Hickford. Mr. C. J. Harris said the position in the vicinity of Koru was the same. Cattle were starting to eat the weed with disastrous results, added Mr. Chapman.

It was decided to ask the Government to import sodium chlorate and distribute it See. County councils could perhaps assist with the distribution. Mr. Chapman was delegated to draw up a report outlining the seriousness of the position. Considerable ragwort eradication had been done through relief camps, stated the Minister of Agriculture in reply to a letter advocating the use of relief camps for that purpose.