RAGWORT CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 44, 30 January 1945, Page 5

RAGWORT CONTROL

FURTHER £1000 NEEDED I ERADICATION IN THE COUNTY The Whakatane County Council lias decided to apply to the Government for a supplementary grant of £1000 for the Avork of ragwort eradication in this district.' The programme of control at present in operation shows 3535 acres in the Whakatane area as treated 3954 i acres in TeTeko and 1054 acres at Wairaana. Up till the. 6th of January the sum of £1455 had been expended, making a total with the £170 paid to the Native Department of £1626. In order to complete the full plan of campaign the extra grant is; required. Inspector Carling's report for the month of December on noxious weeds control makes interesting reading. It states:— During this period I have inspected and re-inspected 573 properties in all parts of the County and served requisition notices to clcar ragAvort and blackberry on settlers who Avere not attending to these noxious weeds as 1'oIIoavs: Waimana and Nu'kuhou North 82; Taneatua and Opouriao 52; Awakeri 75; Thornton and Edgecumbe 61; Otakiri 59; Te Teko and Onepu 103; Matata and Braemar 20; Pekatalii and White Pine Bush 30; Manawalie. 32; Wainui 21; Waiohau and Galatea 17; Paroa and Poroporo 21. Total 573. Most .settlers itre making a genuine attempt to clear noxious weeds. Some settlers who have, not so far made a satisfactory clearance complain of the shortage of labour and 1 am giving them an extension of time to do so before bringing their eases before the Council. Tlie noxious weed gangs are doing good work in aSI although their Avork has been held up with broken AA r eather and their services been used by the farmers for hay making. The. properties under the Native Scheme at Te Teko and Onepu are behind with the clearing of ragwort and Field Supervisor K. Runciman states that the. shortage of labour and pressure of other important work is the: reason, for this,,