MENACE OF RAGWORT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 896, 13 February 1930, Page 7

MENACE OF RAGWORT

MINISTER SYMPATHETIC

rrom Our Oven Correspondent CAMBRIDGE, Todays'

That the .Minister of Agriculture. Hon. G. W. Forbes, has departmoaitai officers who aa-e fully seized with the menace of ragwort was indicated here last evening, when the subject was brought before the Minister’s notice by Mr. F. Lye, M.P. for Waikato. Mr. Lye aske»d the Minister if he

would give an assurance that his department would tackle the problem of the pest on native lands. Many acres were infested on native property and were a menace to European settlers in the Waikato. It was high time the department took a firm stand, though he was not out to criticise the department in dealing with ragwort generally, or its inspectors, who were doing their best. Tho Minister said he realised that high or low, were not the solution of the problem. A sum had been placed on the estimates for dealing with unindividualised native lands and assured Mr. Lye that were native lands individualised the owners would be treated exactly the same as Europeans. Anything that, could be done would, have his co-operation. Dr. C. J. Reakes, Director-General of Agriculture, said his department was hopeful of results from the cinnabar moth, also with spray and other experiments.

The Minister and party left Cambridge this morning to inspect Monovale swamp lands area, and will then continue his tour and visit the soldier settlement at Puahue, also Paterangi, Pirongia and Xgahinepouri.