SPREAD OF RAGWORT

Taranaki Daily News, 29 May 1933, Page 12

SPREAD OF RAGWORT

PROPOSALS FOR CONTROL. REPORT IN THE WAIKATO. Hamilton, May 25. Proposals for the control of ragwort were dealt with in a report compiled by a special committee set up to investigate the question by the Matamata County Council, the Putaruru branch of the Farmers’ Union and the Putaruru Chamber of Commerce. The report, together with a suggested draft for a Ragwort Control Bill, was tabled at a meeting of the Waikato County Council yesterday. Referring to the extent of the danger the report stated: “The committee has made a close investigation of the system, and has come to the conclusion that the menace is so serious, the need for remedial measures so urgent, and the present system so ineffective that drastic changes must be made. In the Waikato and Northern King Country areas losses of stock through ragwort poisoning and the blocking out of the pastures by the spread of the weed have assumed such serious’proportions that many farms now suffer from reduced carrying capacity and some have ceased to be productive. “Under the law as it stands at present certain local authorities have limited powers to deal with ragwort, but in most areas its control is nominally under the inspectors employed by the Department of Agriculture. These inspectors have huge areas to cover and numerous duties to perform, with the result that they are not able to concentrate on the work. Although inspectors have power to enter and clear defaulters’ land, we are not aware of any case where they have been provided with money tior the purpose. Furthermore, inspectors are not even permitted to prosecute defaulters without the consent of the Minister, and this consent is often withheld or is made subject to such conditions as to render the prosecution useless. We are of opinion that nothing short of vigorous local control will suffice.” The committee submitted a draft bill, the main points of which were that local bodies should 'be enabled to assume absolute control of ragwort within their respective districts, and that inspectors should, be answerable solely to the local bodies appointing them, and not be subject to political control. Steps would also be taken to compel .owners to keep their land free of ragwort. In the event of any owner failing to do so, the land would be cleaned and the cost of the work regarded as a first charge on the land. The Waikato County Council decided unanimously to support the report and the committee’s attempt to introduce legislation in order to control the weed. •