GOATSRUE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2024, 4 September 1919, Page 2

GOATSRUE.

AT Monday's meeting of the Manawatu County Council the Foxton Farmers’ Union wrote thanking the Council for life stand it had taken in regard to goatsrue in -the Manawatu district in not declaring it a noxious weed until it was so declared at the sources of supply, namely, the upper reaches of the Manawatu river. The Union also suggested “that the Council ask the Government to enforce the cutting of goatsrue on all Government lands, particularly river , beds. It was felt useless to impose the cutting of goatsrue on the lower reaches of (he Manawatu until it was coped with at the source.” It is regrettable that the local branch of the Farmers’ Union should take up such an attitude. The spread of goatsrue is menacing thousands of acres of fertile land along the banks of the Manawatu river,- and in the interests of the whole ‘community united action should be taken to cope with it. The members of the Union should be aware that as far back as March, 1910, the Woodville County Council took the necessary steps to declare goatsrue a noxious weed, and instead of congratulating (he Manawa-tu County Council on their refusal to follow ‘ suit, the Farmers’ Union would have done better service had they moved in the direction of urging upon the Government the necessity of the Noxious Weeds Inspector carrying out .his duty in (he Woodville County and compelling property owners there to clear their lands of this noxious growth. At a recent conference in Palmerston North, Mr B. G. Gower, who, by the way, is an of-fice-bearer of the local branch of the Farmers’ Union, stated that the spread of this weed, if not checked, would prove as great a menace to the fertile lands of this district as was the blackberry in other districts. He staled then that the Government had refused to place it on the list of Noxious Weeds. We would point out, however, that the declaring of goatsrue as a noxious weed rests with the local bodies, and whilst the Woodville and Kairanga Counties, recognising the menace that is threatening thousands of acres of land, have declared goatsrue a noxious Aeed, the Mauawalu County Council still refuses to follow suit. Whilst some landowners in this district are making every effort to keep their lands clear of this growth, others are allowing it to spread unchecked. W r e hope That the Manawatu County Council, at its next meeting, will reconsider their decision and also draw the attention of the Department to the necessity of the Noxious Weeds In-/ spectors seeing that the provisions of the Act are carried out.