The Ragwort Menace

Te Puke Times, 9 June 1933, Page 2

The Ragwort Menace

Conference At Hamilton A conference of representatives of local bodies was held at Ham-* ilton on Wednesday, to consider various matters affecting settlers, one of the principal being the provisions of a proposed Bill for the eradication of ragwort. There was an attendance of about 30 delegates and this measure was responsible for a lengthy discussion. Mr S. H. MacDougall, Chairman of the Tauranga Coahty Counoil, spoke against the Bill as follows

I thoroughly approve of the principle of this Bill, but do not think it workable in its present form. We must consider that many counties are not collecting 60 per cent of their rates and to clear and rate on badly infested ragwort country, in any part of the Dominion at all events, will mean that some ratepayers will have to tbrow.up their farms, County Counoils are advooating derating but the Bill proposes'* putting on a tax that on heavy ragweed country oould not -be paid. Another objection I haVe to the Bill is that it leaves the olearing a? Crown and NatiVe lands to the discretion of thS Ministers No Bill will be buC* oessful that does not give us full poTerto clear all lahdS in the County. We all know that in many oases Crown and Native Lands have always been and are still a seed bed for noxious weedsW and unless they, as well as the County Lands, are cleared of ragweed, such areas will always be a menace to clean lands. In the matter of inspection and tho powers of inspectors, this eispeot of control is, I believe, fully cover* * ed under the Noxious Weeds ACti The question arises as to what extent the Department’s ihspeotors may proceed. In tbiS connection I would advocate, es with my County, that authority be obtained and gaZiited vesting all the powers of inspectors under the Act, but solely under the control of the Ccu ;ty Council, to have the penal clauses against the Crown, tat va landowners, as well as the privately owned lands, effectheiv brought into operation. It is put to this representative meeting of Coiinty Councils that the matter is a national oUe. ;nd as sue i fc at representa ions be mAde o the-*-Gove rime t w th th empl yment Board pi r nn iu n ot the Minister of Agricultu e, hat it is absolutely ess< ntial that relief labour shall be made'available ’ for the purpose of eradication of ragwort ; the utilization of suoh labour to be made at the two most effectual periods via, spring growth and auiUtnn growth periods ; tho Government to supply sodium chlorate, camping material and keep for the then, thuh enabling concerted action over the Crown and Native areas} County Councils to deal with the matter of trahspotfc and sUpatVl* Stott.- : ‘ , ' I Venture to that wttMh tWo years farming lands and th'e other areas would sso the mcnkb'a Under control. J •, Amotion fn,- ihs adoption the'prbposed ‘£|.l was rejjectedv J