WAR ON RAGWORT.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18807, 1 December 1932, Page 7

WAR ON RAGWORT.

CLEARING OF FARMS. USE OF UNEMPLOYED LABOUR, STATEMENT BY MINISTER. ASSISTANCE FROM GOVERNMENT. (Times correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Arrangements are now being made Anal whereby any landowner will be supplied by the Government with labour for the destruction of ragwort, according to an made by the Minister -of Agriculture, the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, in the House of Representatives this afternoon. The Government, he said, realised the importance of mobilising unemployed labour for the cleaning up of the weed and was prepared to assist by billeting the men on the farms, the landowner to supply board, lodging and material. In those districts where camps were already in -existence unemployed labour could for the time being be diverted for weed destruction, the landowner to supply transport and material. “ Ragwort,” said Mr. Macmillan, ‘is the most serious weed the dairy farmer has to contend with and during recent - years it has spread both on -occupied and unoccupied land to a serious extent in the North Island, particularly in the southern portion of the Auckland province. On small, well grassed dairy farms, since the introduction of sodium chlorate, its control presents little difficulty and the ordinary labour of the farms is sufficient to carry out all the manual work necessary. During the past two years on many such farms regwort has been either definitely checked or completely cleaned -out. Partly Grassed Areas. “ On larger areas, especially those that are only partly grassed, on land, of which no use is at present being made, and on unoccupied land, it is essential if the weed is to be checked in its spread and rendered innocuous as a menace to the infestation of fresh areas that labour beyond the range of the average farmer is necessary. The Government realise the importance of mobilising such labour for the cleaning up of ragwort, and arrange'menls are being made final whereby any landowner will be supplied with labour. The Government is willing to assist and offers to supply the labour — (1) By billeting the men on the farm, landowner to supply board, lodging and material; (2) In those districts where camps are already in existence unemployed labour can, for the time being, be diverted for weed destruction, landowner to supply transport and material. “ By making such labour available the Government, through "the Unemployment Board, is giving substantial assistance to cope with the menace, and its full qse by farmers should enable an immense amount of valuable work to be accomplished.” Assistance Not Needed. The Minister said there were landowners whose financial position was such that they did not require assistance from the Government for keeping ragwort pest under control, and in fairness to all concerned such owners should see that the weed was kept under control free of cost to the State. Again, there were individuals whose financial position was such that they could not make the best use of any effective labour that was offered them. County councils and other interested organisations, knowing the position, might come to their assistance.

It had even been sugested that the Government should undertake the control of this pest free of cost to the landowner. This the Government could not do, as, apart from other considerations, it had not the finances at its disposal for such an undertaking. “ I fear,” said Mr. Macmillan, “that many individuals are not making as serious an effort in this direction as they might; but with ample labour provided them there is no excuse for hanging back.

“ In regard to Crown and unindividualised Native lands, where the weeds on these are found to be a menace to the surrounding farming district, the department will do all that it can towards dealing with the pest. Proceedings Threatened. “ The assistance promised from the Unemployment Board will hold good during the present season and if at the end of that time it Is found that any individual landowner has failed to take advantage of the opportunities available and is consequently harbouring the weed to the detriment of others, I will consider seriously Instituting proceedings against him. 1 “ Representations have been made to me that my department should handle all stocks of sodium chlorate, and retail it to the farmers at cost price. I would like to point out that a Government Department such as this has not the facilities for trading efficiently on a large scale. T have gone into the matter very carefully and it is doubtful if we could import and sell wholesale and retail at a lower rate than Is being done at present. Complaints have been received that the material is being sold at anything up to Sd per pound. This may be so on small lots, sold in country stores. It can, however, be bought at a much cheaper rate.

“If those requiring the material will only place their orders as early as possible so that merchants can estimate with reasonable accuracy the quantities required, they should he aide to obtain supplies at reasonable rates. For instance, districts could club together and buy in quantity and divide up pro rata. If bought in this manner, reasonable prices should he assured. No Real Excuse. “ There is no real excuse for allowing lids pesl to overrun occupied farms. A reliable agent for ils destruction has been found, while labour is being supplied free of cost. Surely settlers can do Die rest. 1 would strongly urge that under llie eireumstances a strenuous effort lie made lo deal with the pest by making a wholehearted endeavour to clear out ragwort. it can he done if everyone does bis lies I. “ There can be no question as lo officiary of sodium ehlornlo in completely killing: ragwort plants lo which j| is applied by either the sprayingmethod, or in dry form mixed wiiii lime or some other suitable material (Continued in next column.)

sand or pumice, for instance. Cases can he instanced where dairying properties have been entirely cleared of ragwort plants, leaving the occupants with only an annual necessity for observing the appearance of new plants resulting from the propagation of xvind-borne seed and destroying them. “An estimate of the annual cost Involved in such cases shows that whereas the first year’s treatment of badly infested land may cost six shillings per acre, the second year’s work only two shillings and the third year’s only two pence, if the work Is done thoroughly throughout. It is unfortunate that at the moment supplies of sodium chlorate, owing to the demand there has been for it this year, have run short, hut further large supplies are on order and the earlier they arrive the heller. In the absence meanwhile of adequate supplies, extensive culling of the plants to prevent seeding is-being advocated, blit Ibis is only a palliative of very leniporary value. “ Complete killing of plants,’’ Mr. Macmillan concluded. “is what Is needed, and if sodium chlorate is unobtainable the best available substiItiles in the form of a mixture of sulphate of ammonia and sand or a mixture of calcium chlorate ami sodium chlorate, which 1 understand is obtainable in Australia, will have to he utilised temporarily, even though they may prove, in practice, to be not quite so completely effective. ’’