"Sacred" Ragwort.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 65, 3 April 1937, Page 4

"Sacred" Ragwort.

"Ragwort is, and always will be, a noxious weed in the North Island, and iarmexs spend thousands of pounds every year in trying to keep it down," Raid Mr W. H. Horton, of Palmerston North, in an interview jn Invercargill. Mr Horton is supervisor and advisory officer of the Greens Research Committee of the New Zealand Golf Council. "But ragwort is by no means conlined to the North Island," he added. "I cam© to Southland, where I expected farmers to hav© wonderful farms, and found that ragwort is treated almost like a sacred plant. Every vacant place in th© town, or on the roadside for miles around, is Infested with ragwort. And no effort, apparehtly, is being made to get rid of it." Rise in Metals. Further reports of excited metal markets and of increased restrictions on defiveries owing chiefly to the re-occu-patipn i;i Eugland with munition manufaoture were received by Auckland importers yester'day by air mail. Munition making is also considarably affecting the cotton piece goods and woollen markets. Air mail advices were to the effect that amazing leaps upward in prices occurred in non-ferrous metals between March 8 and 11, prices being now at liigher levels than for several years, while it seejmed certain that ther© could be no serjous relapse for some months at least, consumption during the present year projnising to break all records. Orchestra Goes into Reoess. Owing to what is desoribed at lack of sqpport and interest on the part of the public, the Auckland Bohemian Symphony Orchestra has deeided to go into recess. The chairman, Mr C. B* Plummer, said that at the annua] meeting the financial position was discussed and it was reluctantly resolved that it was advieable to cease activities until such a time as orchestra! music was wanted by the citizens of Auckland. "Th© last straw was the Government informing us we will be required to pay amusemeni tax this year on our coucerts," Mr Plummer declared. April Wool Saie. Woolbuyers for the sale ajb Napier next Thursday will arrive by the mail train on Monday evening, and will spend the following few days inspectjng the offering of wool displayed at the various stores at Port Ahuriri. Th© buyers were originaUy to have arrived by special train from Wellington tolnorrow, but thia arrangement has been cancelled.