RAGWORT CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 177, 7 November 1941, Page 5

RAGWORT CONTROL

DIFFICULTY THIS YEAR

GANGS START WORK

Handicapped to a serious extent toy the shortage of poisons and reduced funds both the Whakatane County Council and the Native Department are making the best of the position regarding the control ol ragwort this year and have planned to do their utmost to control the menace to farm lands by the use of labour for cutting.

Gangs are at work on Native lands, while the County Council has also started three gangs, these being in the Waimana, Whakatane' and Rangitaiki districts. The Council has had its allocation of funds reduced this year to £2000 and this sum will be expended on labour for cutting on/y, both sodium and atlacide being unprocurable.

The Council, having a limited supply of sodium on hand, is selling this small amount in lots of 251bs per farmer per month, and already thejr-stock is dimishing rapidly.

At the last meeting of the Gounty Council some discussion took place regarding the method of sale of the meagre stock of poison, but the chairman, Mr J. L. Burnett, voiced the feeling of the meeting when he stated that they had adopted the fairest way in which the Council could handle; a difficult position. "It is a serious problem," he said, "and the danger is that all the 1 good work done in the past will go back overnight."

Cr W. A. McCracken had pointed out that the system of allowing each farmer 251bs per month meant that some settlers would be able to get all, and more even, than they required while others would be unable to cope with the pest on the allocation of 251bs per month. However, he agreed with the chairman that farmers were not likely to buy more than they required and it was the fairest way the Council could handle the situation.