"HAWKE'S BAY THISTLE"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 43, 30 October 1946, Page 5

"HAWKE'S BAY THISTLE"

A NOXIOUS WEED

COUNCIL'S DECLARATION

Decorating the Council table at the last meeting of the Whakatane County Council was a large thistle plant which, it later transpired, was there for the sole purpose of being declared a noxious weed.

The matter was raised by the Waimana branch of the Federated Farmers of N.Z. who, concerned at the rapid growth of the weed, known as "Hawke's Bay Thistle", in the Bay of Plenty, wrote the Council, with the request that it be declared a noxious weed, and that the County Ranger be instructed to require landowners to keep their property clear of it.

Commenting on the matter, Cr McCready said that he understood the weed, which was also known as "Varigated Thistle" had a firm grip in the Gisborne area, where many pounds ware spent annually in combatting it.* Cr Leslie instanced a farm at Otakiri where he had noticed the thistle was growing. There were only three plants, and the occupier of the land did not have time to cut it out until after it had seeded. Now there was a patch there "half as big as this room" (indicating the council room).

Cr Wardlaw said that he knew of instances where they had been cut each year with a mower. There had been no increase in number until this year. He .accredited this to the recent drought. Cr McGougan: It would be wise to nip it in the bud and declare it a noxious weed. The council decided to follow this course. •