GOATSRUE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2047, 28 October 1919, Page 3

GOATSRUE.

The suggestions of the Manawatu sub-provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union that goaisrue should he declared a" noxious weed in

the Manawatu district, were replied to in a letter from the Manawatu • County Council received at a meeting of the executive on Saturday. The letter stated that in the opinion of the Council it would he an injustice to the ratepayers in tty; lower portions of the Manawatu to declare goatsme a noxious weed. The weed was flourishing in the upper reaches of the Manawatu rivei’, and every

flood brought down seed and deposited it over the low lands, so that even if the ratepayers of the County

were to clear their lands at a heavy cost, the first flood would re-sow the ground. The Council considered that the weed should bo effectually dealt with in the upper reaches before it could he dealt with'in the lower.

Mr B. G. Gower (Foxton) moved the following remit from Foxton: — “That the executive call a meeting of all settlers interested and affected by goatsruo to consider the matter of dealing with this noxious weed.” In doing so, he pointed out that: in his district the weed was spreading to such an extent that it Avns simply ruining their properties. They could do nothing, however, in the matter of clearing it while the Manawatu County Council refused to declare it a noxious weed. • Mr Neilsen said that the weed was appeax’ing on many of the roads in the County, being carted out of the river bed with the metal which was prit on the roads. Mr E. McDonald said (hat the question was always being raised that if the Act were enforced many landowners would be ruined. They must not allow that. Sumo way must he found so that all interested should contribute to the cost of its eradication.

A delegate suggested that as (he Government had introduced wood in the first instance, they should he called upon to recoup any settler for the cost of clearing his property. The remit was adopted.