RAGWORT MENACE

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20274, 17 August 1937, Page 12

RAGWORT MENACE

CAMPAIGN STARTS EARLY. WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL'S WORK. RAOKBLOCKS TO BE DEALT WITH. (Times sp'-rla! Reporter.) TK AWAMUTU. Monday. Tbo \Yupr, County Connell his eommeneed Its ricwort eradication rariipii.-n. having received departmental authority f.>r an early start, which is Sh weeks In advance ot previous rear-. T inspector. Mr 11. M. Wall, in Ids report to the monthly meetinc ~r tt,o to-dav. sai l that while it was dinteult to determine the actual position at this time of the year, there was no do,i .1 that the proposition was n much improved one. Smn*' of the ragwort areas which weft .i»>votiil the scope of the council s scheme ha\e been acquired by nelgh’•.»»i:•.:i settlers, which greatly helped the general position. i .miwidering the early start and also the f.iet ttit many farmers would he able to cope with the ragwort tliemselves, it was hoped to concentrate more on the outlying parts of the county, which have not previously been dealt with. Two gangs of 12 m**n were now employed on the council's scheme and it was hoped bv the inspector that another gang would com- • . \ During the month 22$ lons of sodium anti lime were used by the gan«s. Ample supplies of sodium were In stock. ** It is gratifying to note that an early start has been made this season. At present the plants are easily visible nnd the c.impuign should thus be facilitated,” said Mr F. L. Onion. Work on Roads. In his report to the council the engineer. Mr J. \V. Civil, stated that general repair work had been completed on the roads throughout the county. in the Hamilton riding the work had consisted of sanding, grading and general surfacework. An engineering survey has been made of a further two miles of the Frankton-Plrongia main highway, making a total length of miles completed. which was the distance arranged for the first ye »r’s programme. Plans were being prepared. An estimate had been prepared for improving and scaling various roads in the Ilangiaohla Hiding, totalling a distance of nine miles eight chains. The estimate was before Hie meeting. Two men have been working on the Ptrongla drainage scheme, six men on the Pukekura drainage scheme, and lb men cleaning the Mangapiko and Kakcpuku drains under Scheme 5. Ranqiaohla Roads. T’nless a Oovrrnmcnt subsidy of a ft for £ t could be obtained Mr fi. S. Hall considered that tiis private scheme for sealing back roads in the Rang! aohi i riding would be Impossible as the rates would have to he increased too much. Mr Hall considered that work on some of the roads was Imperative. He deferred further action until the estimates had been more fully considered. Mr S. C. B. Macky presided over the meeting.