THE RAGWORT MENACE

Waipa Post, Volume 47, Issue 3385, 26 October 1933, Page 5

THE RAGWORT MENACE

CAUSTIC COMMENT BY COUNTY COUNCIL. MINISTER TAKEN TO TASK. The handling of the ragwort menace by the Minister of Agriculture received severe condemnation by members of the Mlatamata County Council at last meeting. A motion asking the Minister to take action, or make room for another, wii-'s defeated by only one vote, and only then because some members thought that one paragraph slightly exceeded the Council's jurisdiction. The discussion was most pointed throughout, and there appeared to be unanimous agreement that the Minister had not tackled the question in a satisfactory manner, and was responsible because of his statements for the shortage of supplies of sodium chlorate..

SUPPLY OF SODIUM CHLORATE,

The discussion ai'ose following the receipt of letters from several ratepayers making inquiries in regard to sodium chlorate and following action taken by the Council at recent meetings.

The chairman (Cr J. W. Anderson) said it would be absolutely wrong for the Council to supply sodium chlorate below cost to ratepayers who could afford to buy it. The retail cost would be between 5d and 6d per lb, he understood.

Cr A. T. Morriss (Putaruru) said the position was that if the Council supplied sodium below cost those ratepayers who were paying their rates would have to pay the difference, and, further, that those receiving the exterminator below cost would not pay, as they were not now in a position to pay their rates. Cr Cox remarked that the Native Department's declaration that it could not find any money was absurd, as the lands. under its control went on seeding the whole time. That could not be allowed to continue. Cr J. Bruce said he knew a fai-mer who used a ton of sodium chlorate on 160 acres, and had spent £lls in nine months. Cr Morriss said a neighbour of his had used half a ton last year, and his farm was not clear. The work had been done in the winter. Cr Nickle commented that winter was not the best time to kiH ragwort. r CR WHITE'S MOTION. Cr White then moved the following motion, addressed to the Minister of Agriculture, which he had written out:— " Owing to the conflicting statements made by ,you during the last few months this Council is of opinion that you do not know where you stand on this urgent question, and we suggest to you that the Department either gets right into the business or else keeps right out of it. Failing this, we would respectfully suggest to you to make room for someone more capable of dealing with this question." Cr Dee: I am against it.

Cr Stewai-t: It is too late to beg pardons. We have talked too long. I'll second the motion. We have been patting them on the back too long. It is a very serious matter, this. _ Cr White said he had carefully considered what he had written. He said local bodies were being used as a gobetween too much by the Department.

Cr Stewart: They are being laughed at by the best people a ] l over New Zealand.

IThe chairman, after calling three times for votes on the voices, said the motion was lost.

"A MINISTER'S ABILITY."

The chairman said it ivas the last clause to which some members objected.

Cr Stewart: Do members think the Minister has sufficient ability to handle the matter Do members conscientiously believe he has ?

There were several smiles around the table, but no reply, until finally the chairman said, after some hesitation, that he did not think it was the Council's business to remark on a Minister's ability. Cr Bruce thought it was time the Council impressed the seriousness of the position on the Minister. It might be better to leave the last part out. The question was a most serious one, and demanded strong action. Cr Morriss: In one way the reso'u*ion is right, as we wrote to the Minister last meeting, and we have received no reply.

The clerk: The letter went away f'our weeks ago to-day. Cr Morriss: It is certainly the Minister's fault that there is not sufficient sodium chlorate in New Zealand today, If he had kept his mouth shut last-year there would have been plentiful supplies. (Laughter.) Cr White: I'd like to point out to Cr Morriss that he is now questioning the Minister's capabilities. On the suggestion of several members the question Avas adjourned until after lunch.

Later Cr White deleted the final paragraph in his resolution, and the amended motion was carried unanimously.