CONTROL OF WEEDS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1940, Page 10

CONTROL OF WEEDS

WAIMATE WEST COUNTY "I take strong exception to the remarks made concerning the growth of noxious weeds in the Waimate district, said Mr. F. Mourie (chairman) at the monthly meeting of the Waimate West County Council yesterday morning. ITie statement to which he objected was that made by Mr. W. A. Sheat at the meeting of the Egmont County Council on Tuesday to the effect that members of the Farmers' Union executive were very concerned at the rapid spread of Californian thistle, particularly in the Waimate county.

"It would be overburdening the taxpayers to expect them to take action at present," said Cr. Mourie, "but if the Government Department of Agriculture were to give an indication of the course to be followed in the control of the thistle, the council would adopt it- as a rneans of checking any increase in this weed." The council passed a resolution to .that effect. The sentiment of the meeting was that it had been singularly unfair that the Waimate West district had been singled but as having been ineffieient in tliis respect. Regarding the growth of thistle in the district, it had been found, councillors said, that cutting in the proper season would eventually cause the death of the weed, or at least ' restrieted it to very small areas, a good heavy pasture over the cut choking its growth. The question of 1941 centenary celebrations was introduced by the reading of a letter from the secretary of the Taranaki celebrations committee, Mr. P. E. Stainton, . who said that while it was appreciated that it would not be possible for a representative of the council to attend ordinary meetings in connection with the Taranaki provincial celebrations it was hoped that the chairman would permit his name to be added to the general committee. Cr. L. C. Harrison moved a resolution that owing to war conditions— petrol restrictions, necessity for increased production and like causes — no action could be taken, saying that they had more than centenary celebrations to worry about. The meeting endorsed the action taken on their behalf in refusing to the education board the right for school children to have the use of the Manaia swimming baths "for all time and at all times" as their request occasioned. The engineer reported that the water table had been cleaned out and the shoulders graded off along the whole of Omuturangi Road, while the same work had also been caiyied out on Upper Oeo Road and pa: '• of Lower Oeo Road had been put in order. Tar patching had been done on Omuturangi, Oeo and Skeet Roads. ,