THE RAGWORT MENAGE.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 279, 14 March 1929, Page 5

THE RAGWORT MENAGE.

MATAMATA COUNTY DISCUSSION. A telegram received by the Matamata County Council from the Minister of Agriculture stated that he had arranged with the DirectorGeneral of Agriculture to look into ■the ragwort question. The chairman stated that the local inspector had authority to engage labour, but there was difficulty In getting a man with a car. Cr. Allen stated the matter had been dealt with too late. The chairman stated that Mr. Collins, from Auckland, had called on him and remarked that the law was not sound enough on the question. All they could do was to give notice to clear, and if it was not done the settler was fined. This was often cheaper than clearing the weed. He had suggested the man to get at was the man with a few plants. Eeports from the King Country showed that where sheep were fenced on the weed it was kept down. It was only where old ewes were kept and sold at the end of the year that it was successful, as the plant seemed to affect young sheep. Cr. Wilson thought blackberry was as bad as ragwort.

Cr. Judd agreed with the views as expressed by the chairman. Cr. Cox suggested that if it was cheaper to be fined the council should ask the Minister to amend the Act. The chairman did not think that would be done, and remarked that if some settlers were fined £SO they would not clear their ragwort for that sum. Cr. Allen held that the present trouble Whs .caused through the Department not being strict enough in the past. It was' not settlers that had a few plants oh ' clear country that were to blame, and to fine them and allow others further back to escape would be most unfair. The Department should tackle the problem and place everyone on the same footing, or else leave it alone. The plant was not to be compared with blackberry, which could be killed by top-dressing. Cr. Anderson: Yes; and it does not affect stock. Cr. Cox suggested that where there was a lot of ragwort it should be treated like twitch and ploughed up and thoroughly worked. The council decided that it was too late this season to prosecute the matter, and it was decided to keep the question if> view for next season.