NOXIOUS WEEDS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20736, 21 February 1939, Page 9

NOXIOUS WEEDS

TE KAWA DRAINAGE AREA REPORT TO WAIPA COUNCIL (Times Special Reporter) TE AWAMUTU, Monday. “Several properties in the Te Kawa drainage area are badly infested with ragwort, but one or two have shown wonderful improvement in the last few years,” said Mr G. M. Wall, noxious weeds inspector, in a special report on the Te Kawa drainage area to the Waipa County Council to-day. The land was a heavily timbered swamp situated on the southern boundary of the county. “It is difficult to offer any real solution as the country does not lend itself to stock control and the immense amount of timber makes the cost of other forms of control, such as spraying or cutting, out of all proportion to the revenue likely to be derived from the land,” said Mr Wall. In the opinion of the inspector the settlers were trying t.o control the ragwort and blackberry and he considered only one large holding to be a real menace. The blackberry there seeded quickly and was spreading all over the district. Department’s Intentions The county chairman, Mr S. C. B. Macky, explained that tlie greater part of tlie affected swamp was in the Otorohanga County. It was agreed to send a copy of the report to the Te Kawa Drainage Board. In his monthly report, Mr Wall stated that the spraying of noxious weeds in Ihe Kakepuku and Luke Cameron drains li.nl been completed. Over eight miles of drains had been -prayed and a considerable amount experimental work had been carThe secretary. Department of Labour, idvi>cd Ihe council that his department h ul no inf* nfion of terminating the ragwort eradication

scheme and that such action would not be taken before the matter had been fully considered in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, under whose jurisdiction tlie scheme operated. It was pointed out that the continuation of the scheme was subject to the policy of the Government remaining as at present. The council expressed gratification at the view taken by tlie department.