THE RAGWORT MENACE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1933, Page 9

THE RAGWORT MENACE

USE OF SODIUM CHLORATE ASSISTANCE BY GOVERNMENT. SPECIAL LEGISLATION PROPOSED. LOANS FOR COUNTY COUNCILS. " Legislation will be introduced this session authorising county councils to .finance the purchase of sodium chlorate in bulk for retailing to farmers for the destruction of ragwort. Arrangements have been made with the Unemployment Board under which loans can be made to councils under certain specified conditions. Labour used under this scheme must be drawn from the unemployed. In a circular forwarded to county councils the Department of Agriculture states that the question of what can be done to stimulate efforts to eradicate ragwort and overcome the handicap resulting from the unavoidably high prices farmers have to pay for sodium chlorate has been receiving the active attention of the Government, in view of the pressing necessity for doing all possible to deal effectively with this pest. As the existing financial position prevented the making of a direct grant from the Consolidated Fund, arrangements had been made in co-operation with the Unemployment Board under which loans, up to an over-all maximum of £lO,OOO, could be granted county councils on the following conditions: — PURCHASE IN BULK. (a) That the moneys so loaned shall be devoted entirely to the purchase of sodium chlorate in bulk. (b) Sales to farmers in small quantities as desired shall be at as low a price as can be arranged (from 3d to 4d per lb. according to quantity purchased is suggested), plus cost of containers, if supplied by the council. (e) Where labour is engaged for ragwort destruction it must be unemployed lalour. The Unemployment Board is making the necessary arrangements for facilitating this. (d) That the proceeds of sales tq farmers be credited to the general funds of the county. , (e) That the county councils pay interest on the loan at the rate of not less than per cent, per annum, and repay the whole loan in five years at the rate of 20 per cent, each year on the original Sum advanced. Such payments to be made from the general funds of the county. • A large or total payment will, however, be accepted by the board at any time. . Importing merchants will be asked to satisfy the Government that sales to County councils in bulk are made at a price which Will return to them a fair and reasonable profit in the circumstances and no more. SPECIAL LEGISLATION. It has been ascertained that under existing legislation county councils are not fully empowered to tarry out these proposals; therefore, Special legislation will require to te introduced and steps to this end are being taken. It is proposed that this legislation shall authorise county councils: (1) To purchase sodium chlorate in bulk; (2) to retail to farmers at a price Which may fee below cost price; (3) to raise a loan for the purpose without the necessity of taking a poll of ratepayers; and (4) to repay the loan and interest thereon out of the general fund at the rate Of’2o pet cent, each year. As it is deemed desirable that early, action should be taken in the purchase of sodium chlorate, the legislation? will be so worded as to validate any steps taken in the meantime by county councils to put the above arrangement into force in their districts. All applications for loans should be made in the first instance to the Director-General, Department of Agriculture, Wellington.