MENACE OF RAGWORT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 373, 7 November 1932, Page 2

MENACE OF RAGWORT

DANGER TO DISTRICT EXPRESSED BY OPOTIKI RESIDENTS. When a letter from Mr. J. S. Baverstock asking for subsidised labour to combat ragwort was read to the Opotiki County Council, Cr. C. Black said that though the 4A scheme was now inop'erative, the council should do its utmost to assist under the No. 5 scheme. The county clerk (Mr. J. T. Merry) mentioned that the No. 5 scheme allocation was steadily being reduced. Formerly it was £95 per week; last we'ek it was down to £47, and he expected that it would sink to £40 next week. This, too, had to be spread over the whole county. Cr. Black pointed out that the apP'licant himself could subsidise the No. 5 scheme man by p.aying him for extra days. Cr. Martin stated that at the present time the clearing of ragwort was the responsibility of the Agricultural Department, and, it would be unwise for the council to take the responsibility itself. On the suggestion of the ehairman the matter was left to the engineer and clerk to handle. Letters from the Matamata County Council d'ealing with the control' of ragwort and the price of sodium chlorate drew a protest of victimisation from Cr. Johlin. The Government should keep the price down. The clerk pointed out that the 'Government, with its ragwort, was the largest offender. Cr. Wilson mentioned that the Te Kuiti Dairy Company was providing its supp.liers with sodium chlorate at cost price. The ehairman; We will be pprfeetly safe in recommending that the department clear its own lands of ragwort.