RAGWORT CLEARANCE

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 21981, 9 March 1943, Page 4

RAGWORT CLEARANCE

COMPLAINT BY OCCUPIERS Messrs J. R. Herbert and A. W. Green, of Tamahere, waited on the Waikato County Council at today’s meeting on the subject of ragwort clearing. The council considered first a report by its noxious weeds inspector, Mr G. G. Winter, on the two properties concerned. It was stated that in the Magistrate’s Court at Hamilton the magistrate had imi posed penalties of 10s and costs on eight ratepayers, while the charge against Mr Herbert was dismissed for lack of proof of ownership, and j the charge against Mr Green was j dismissed as the magistrate considI ered reasonable efforts had been ■ made to clear ragwort on the property.

! Mr Herbert detailed what he had : done to control the weed. He said I he had been in possession only a few' j weeks and considered the inspector had been harsh in prosecuting him. | Mr Green claimed he had been persecuted. He asked if the council I approved its inspectors “worrying i farmers on a Sunday.” He had gone ! to the expense of £3 3s to prepare his case in the Court recently and j asked the council to pay that amount ; as the case had been dismissed.

Members defended the inspector against allegations of victimisation and lack ol tact, and the council decided to take no further action in the matter of the complaints.