RAGWORT.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18534, 14 January 1932, Page 11

RAGWORT.

SPREAD OF THE WEED. A SERIOUS POSITION. RAGLAN COUNTY DISCUSSION. In a discussion at yesterday’s meeting, members of the Raglan County Council expressed alarm at the spread of ragwort, and resolved to request the officers of the Department of Agriculture in Hamilton to take rigorous steps towards the eradication of the pest. The Minister of Agriculture (Hon. J. G. Cobbe) advised that the Council’s 'communication on 'the subject had been referred 'to the Department of Agriculture for attention. Cr. Tl. AV. Wilson (chairman) referred .to the bad condition of one of the southern ridings he had recently visited. .He stressed the very serious aspeot of the ragwort menace and the need for the most rigorous action being . taken to compel land oc'ouplers and owners to take steps to clear the weed. Cr. M. J. Corcoran said that notices had been issued in the Pirongia area he had been advised . that the authorities would take the legal action available if those served to clear their lands did not aot. So far as he oould see, nothing very effective had been achieved yet, but'he had been advised that the authorities would act. : l

Cr. J. H. Furniss pointed out the weakness in the inability to. deal ‘with Crown, native, and absentee lands. Unless provision was sought to obtain efficacious action in this connection the clearing work on other lands would be nullified. The Counties’ Association should insist on the framing of legislation to deal with lands under forfeiture. It was essential .that the floweringTagwort be burnt, while spraying- >vith sodium chlorate was quife effective. v A _ T • i A Real Problem. The . ‘chairman’, questioned how spraying was going to be applied to big areas owing to the expense. He agreed with a statement recently irlido by the member for Rotorua to the effec tthat ragwort was the mosti serious menace the country had to face so far as noxious .Weeds were concerned. ■, '■ ' : t , dr. Furniss remarked that if immediate and drastic 'action was not taken to end ragwort, the latter would soon end those whose land was infested.

Cr. Johnstone, after referring to .the, prevalence of ;ragwort, said that most people did not realise the gravity of the position. The right way Lo bring its danger to direct notice was through the activities'of the noxious weeds inspectors. ■; ' , ' ■/', ■■ • ■ l Cr. J. L. Martyn expressed the view that ragwort could be controlled on the smaller areas If those responsible to see that clearance steps were taken kept hammering away. The graver

aspect of the question concerned the bigger areas and unoc'cupied lands. Spraying was an-effective method- if. the money was available to meet the cost. If ragwort was cut how such action would at least be a means of saving properties which were-clean at present. The speaker recognised it as the iiuty of the Council to bring to notice cases where no action was being taken by those on the land, to clear ragwort,. - 1 ' • - . In the experience outlined by -those who had had practical. knowledge of ragwort, the necessity for burning 'tho flower was pointedly stressed. -jJy

CONSTIPATION BANISHED. ■ ; ' ' ■ ■■■,. 1 . • .'.p.', ; ! . \ BY DR. MORSE’S INDIAN ROOT PILLS ; J ’Mrs 'M. G.-' Waltsi' 5 Oak. Street’, 7 Woolston, writes: —"l have used Dr. Morse’s Indian Root Pills; and found •' great benefit in banishing constlpa- ; lion.. They act mildly and effectively,;’ 1 ' and I can recommend their use'xlo other folks when suffering from con-''-' stipation. I am a mother or nine : children.’’- 1 • ' .. vY ' - 1