Economic Value Of Gorse To Be Subject Of Investigation

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 November 1947, Page 6

Economic Value Of Gorse To Be Subject Of Investigation

The suggestion that Federated Farmers should circularise other executives with the idea of getting an authoritative statement on the economic value of gorse was made at yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Provincial Executive by Mr. W. J. Tripe and was adopted. In introducing the matter, Mr. Tripe said that Dr. Miller, in dealing with the gorse grub weevil, had mentioned that no steps had been taken to introuce an insect to destroy gorse because of its economic value. Mr. Tripe instanced the amount that was being spent by some farmers in an endeavour to eradicate gorse with little success. He would like to see Federated Farmers secure an authoratative opinion on the economic value of gorse and forward this to Dr. Miller with the request that if the opinion favoured the eradication of forse what would be the prospects of securing an insect to combat it. He considered that the average gorse hill farmer would be prepared to contribute toward the cost of establishing something to eradicate gorse. In his opinion the value of gorse for hedges and fodder was far outweighed by the loss of land. The destruction of the seed in the pod by the weevil was insufficient. There was seed in the ground which soon sprouted up.

Members considered that it would taken from 25 to 50 years to get the gorse seed out of the ground. Mr. Tripe’s suggestion was carried.