RAGWORT MENACE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 140, 30 June 1937, Page 15

RAGWORT MENACE

Plans for New Campaign CONFERENCE WITH MINISTER HAMILTON, June 22. Appreciation o£ the assistanco received from th& Government last season in the eiforts mado by the county eounciis to eradicate ragwort was expressed by many speakers at a confer* ence of locdl body delegates and Agricultural Dcpartment representativeS held at Hamilton to-d Ry. The Ministor of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, was present, hnd tbe director of agriculture, Mr A. H. Cockayne, presided. Representativea of 16 county councils in the South Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and King Country districts attended. In opening the conference, the Minis- 1 ter said he was in a quandary as to the 1 value of the wOrk that had been dono to eradicate ragwort. Wbile very favourable reports had bcen received from Bome localities, repotts frofii other districts indicated that the tesults were very disappointing. He wished the delegates to understand that the Governmeiit did not undertake to assume all the rfesponsibility of eradicatiiig ragwort. ResponBlbilities Emphasised Mjt it'a iiational meiiace," he continued, "but the individual owner, the local bodies, and all concerned jnust realise their responsibilities in aiding the Government. The co-operation of every farm.er is essential." The work done in the various counties during the last two years was reviewed by the delegates, who expressed the view that although much progress had^been made, a great deal remained to be done, especially in areas where there were native and Crown lands. Comments hy Mr Gockayne Mr Cockayne said that during the last season, which was a wet one, the results of iising sodium chlorate were somewhat disappointing. It was geberally recognised that spraylng should begin earlier. Sodium chlorate would not eradicate all the ragwort plants, and its efficiency Was largely dependent on soil moisture. Continuing, Mr Cockayne suggested that the counties should lavy a special xate in order to raise money with which to combat ragwort. t Mr W. Lee (Waitomo) disagreed and contended .that there was too much Crown and native land to make such a scheme practicable. A recommendation as follows, framed by Mr Cockayne, was carried unanimously: — "-That an intensifioation of the work carried but last ycar be continued, the work being dirccted particularly to those areas that are of immddiate daflger lo uear^by land* Fbf this purpose the depaftment iaterview all the county councils immediately and atrange allocations somewhat on the linei bf ltst year, detailing the areas, whether occupied or unoceupied, xt is proposed to deal With, and then come to tfome concluBion as to the exact allo' cations that are to be made to each county, so that proper arfangements can bo made for adequate supplies of eodium chlorate. uae of Gang System "In general, the gang system should be used, btit as much latitude as possible be secured from the Labour Eepartment so that efficlent labour be made available, but that modilications o£ the. gang system be adopted where such modilications are desirable; also that an effort be made to ensure the co-operation of the Lands Department, the Mortgage Corporation and the Native Lands Department with the counties so' far as lands nnder their jurisdiction are concerned. *' The Minii'ter said a research officer had been established at Ruakura for the pui'pose bf ihvestigating the ragwort prab:CM and carrying* out tests.