RAGWORT MENACE

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17964, 8 March 1930, Page 9

RAGWORT MENACE

GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. FARMERS’ UNION DISCUSSION. In the opinion of Mr W. J. Marx, a member of the executive of. the Waikato Sub-provincial branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the Government is not proceeding along the right lines in its endeavour to eradicate the ragwort menace. Following a communication from the Director-General of Agriculture, in which he staled that his department was not neglecting this important ■matter and that inspectors were exercising strict supervision in an effort to prevent the spread of the weed, Mr Marx remarked, “We get letters from the department and that is all.’’ Continuing, the speaker pointed out that admittedly inspectors went around to the various farms, hut it was his experience that they arrived only after the flower had already seeded. The chairman, -Mr T. 11. Henderson, remarked that it was impossible for some farmers —those'with big holdings—to eradicate the weed. The Waikato Times had given valuable publicity to the menace of the weed and their branch had always taken every opportunity to stress the importance of' farmers doing their share towards killing the weed. All this was counteracted to a large extent if they did not have the co-opera-tion of the Government. it was not of much avail one man clearing tils farm if his neighbour did not do so, was the opinion of Mr R. McCorquindale.