CONTROL OF RAGWORT

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1934, Page 7

CONTROL OF RAGWORT

RELIEF LABOUR AVAILABLE.

POSITION OF LOCAL BODIES.

The Unemployment Board (•has decided to again make labour available from September 1 next to farmers for the eradication of ragwort on similar terms to those operating last year, the Clifton County Council was notified yesterday. Where local authorities were prepared to act as employers of men for the purpose registered unemployed would be made available to farmers for full-time work of not less than five days a week, with no stand-down week, under the No. 5 scheme. The board would provide a subsidy of 30s a week for married men and 10s a week for single men. Farmers would be required to provide food, transport, materials and other costs and to accommodate the men where necessary. Relief labour under scheme 4a could also be utilised for that work. The chairman did not think that many farmers in the district took advantage of the scheme. Except for one farm on Otaraoa Road the ragwort position was not so serious in the county.

Mr. E. A. Shaw said that the biggest problem they were up against was the Native Lands Department and abandoned Government sections.

Mr. W. H. Watson said that in his district sheep had proved effective in keeping down ragwort, the position having greatly improved in some cases. Mr. Watson said there was one bad place at Otaraoa Road and another at Tarata. The latter case was driving a neighbouring farmer out of dairying. The chairman considered the council should take some notice of the neglect of noxious weeds, as neighbouring farms suffered.

Cr. J. F. Phillips said it was only a short time before the control of weeds would be pushed on to the county councils. The Farmers’ Union was doing its best to that end. The chairman said that probably legislation would be introduced this session. He understood it was proposed to give local bodies power to put men on to clear the weeds or even to stock the farms with sheep. It was agreed that the engineer and the county inspector report to the noxious weeds inspector any cases of apparent neglect in the control of noxious weeds.