GOAT’S RUE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2586, 29 May 1923, Page 4

GOAT’S RUE.

FARMERS’ UNION PROTEST,

During a discussion on noxious weeds at the New Zealand Farmers’ Union inter-provincial conference at Palmerston North last week, the spread of goat's rue through the medium of ballast from the Mann-‘ watu river came under review. On behalf of the Wellington provincial district, Mr W. D. Carson moved: That the attention of the Minister for Railways be directed to the action of the Railway Department in drawing ballast from the Manawatu river at Longburn as the whole of that river is infested with goat’s .rue. The mover stressed the noxious character of this weed and the alarming manner in which it was being spread from the cause stated. Mr Bond'protested that unless the Kairanga County Council got metal from that source there would be a great difficulty in securing material for local roads. In the course of the discussion, the mover said that metal could be carted from other reaches of the river where the weed did not exist. He added that the weed was already in the Manawatu-district, and perhaps it did not matter so much carting Longburn metal there, but he protested against it being carted a number of miles down the line. The remit was carried.