RAGWORT MENACE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 67, 24 April 1945, Page 2

RAGWORT MENACE

FARMERS DISCUSS POSITION

DECISION OF ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The seriousness of the ragwort menace was outlined in no uncertain terms at the annual conference of the Bay of Plenty Sub-Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union in Tauranga. A remit from, the Athcnree branch that to enable more effective action to be taken to combat the ragwort menace the Noxious Weeds Act be reviewed for amendment; that the minimum line be increased to £5 with a maximum of £50; that the period of two months allowed to do the clearing be deleted and that the Government department take over the question of clearing Crown and | Native lands by means of permanent gangs operating throughout the year on these ragwort-infested lands', was favoured by the ineeting ) there being some dissentients. Discussing the position in one area ? Mr H. C. McCready (Taneatua) said he believed that there was still some hefty ragwort about and he believed that "they were going to start a sawmill to do the thing properly." (Laughter). He stressed the seriousness of the position . In moving the motion quoted above, Mr C. A. Moore (Athenrce) asked if it were not wise that if there were rabbit, boards that there should be ragwort boards also. He suggested that 'rabbits had never been the menace that ragwort had, and yet there were no ragwort, boards. The remit was asking the Government to do the job where, it had fallen down added the speaker. Mr F. W. Iveam (Tauranga) mentioned that the European would be prosecuted for not clearing his ragwort while the native was not touched. The view that the question was being tackled wrongly was cxpress/ed by Mr J. K. Hamilton (Tauranga) who mentioned advantages which resulted from the running of sheep. He considered that this did more to eradicate ragwort than by digging and spraying. Mr W. I. Rushton, a mcmaer of the Tauranga County Council said that members had done as much as they could. The alleged statutory weakness was commented on by Mr Moore.