CALIFORNIAN THISTLE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2436, 15 April 1915, Page 8

CALIFORNIAN THISTLE

TAIHAPE FARMERS' REPRESENTATIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Assooiation.l Talhape, April 14, A largely attended meeting of farmers representing the district from R-a-ngiwahia, to Raotihi to-day discussed the Ualifornian thistle question. All present agreed on the necessity for the removal of the present reitrictions. Discussion centred round the question of either its entire removal from the Act or a transfer to the third schedule, thus giving eaoh local body control. Freehold tinners of long-standing were emphatic in asserting that the Californian thistle was not the pest feared, and stated their intention to refuse to cat it in future. Others spoke of the advantage of the thistle as feed during tho la6t dry •season., It was stated that, contrary to expectation, the seed carried by the wind did not germinate like Scotch thistle sosd. Experience in this distriot is that the 'weed is fast disappearing where once there was: a thick growth owing to inability to resist a strong grass growth. Eventually the following resolution was unanimously adopted: — "That this representative meeting of settlers from Rangiwahia to Raotihi unanimously declare after some years' experience that they consider Californian tWstle should bo transferred from the second to the third schedule of the Noxious Weeds Act " A strong deputation, representative of the districts, was appointed to wait on the Minister of Agriculture in support of tho resolution.