INQUIRY BEGUN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1757, 23 May 1913, Page 3

INQUIRY BEGUN.

THE CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

(Dy Telegraph.—Spccial Correspondent.) Wanganui, May 22. In view of complaints being made by farmers in different parts of tho countrv as to the spread uf Californian thistle, an inquiry is now being held by the Agricultural Department in pursuance of instructions given by the l'rime -Minister. Tho inquiry is being conducted by Mr. Clifton (Director of the Fields and Experiments Division). Mr. Clitton stated at the opening of tho inquiry (held at Taihapo) that notes of the evidence given and his report would be submitted to the Government, together with such opinions, on'the matter as ho was able to form.

A largo number of settlers were examined. A Moawhango farmer said that, on natural clearings, the thistle was not worth consideration. When thcro was fallen bush and stumps it was impossible to get the thistles cut owing to the labour difficulty. On the other hand, when the land was heavily stocked tho sheep, and cattle would be at the thistle. He was partly responsible for tho introduction of the thistle in his district. It happened through grass seed obtained from the south. Californian thistle was a pest, but not a menace. It had not affected tho carrying capacity of his land. A Taihape farmer said that tho thistle scare was doin# mora harm than the thistlo itself. If the Act were not enforced, the value of property would increase. He recommended heavy stocking, close paddocking, and. a good.solo of grass. A Raetihi 6ottlcr said that ho was obliged to cut tho thistle twice, and, sometimes, thrice a year. The cost of this cutting was about .£22 a year. 'Where the thistle was solid and spreading over considerable areas, it affected the value of the laud. In the oldest and best grassed 'farm in his district tho thistle was worst, but, generally, the thistles wcro more found on recently-felled land thnn on older land.

An Ohutu farmer said that it cost him about ,£250 a year, three cuttings during the period being required. The selling value of the land was not affected by the weed, nor was ho awaro of any case in which it was difficult to obtain advances owing to thistles being on the land. A. Bulls settler stated that the thistle in lower Rangitikei was encroaching, especially on ploughed land, and was lik'ely to ha?e a very serious effect on the grass seed trade. He maintained that, if the thistles were not cut, the land must depreciatc. He considered that men who were trying to keep their land clear should bo protected. If, as had been claimed, thistles were beneficial, why did not settlers sow it? A settler of Taoroa considered that the Government should either enforce the Act so stringently as to compel tho cutting nn of holdings, or lot the Act go.' Judicious stocking on old pastures would minimise ' the evil.

An Ohakune settler was in favour of tho Act being carried out. He suggested that, as tho settlers were .not responsible for the presence of the pest, tho Government should pay half the cost of eradicating the thistles; also that sawmillers, on "cutting out," should fell all remaining timber, and sow down the land in grass.