With today’s Game Guardian on for Farming GUARDIAN
Guardian ASHBURTON
Auld Mug
ASHBURTON
SEPTEMBER, 2013
Facts on flax
Dogs benefit from flaxseed oil P2-4
www.guardianonline.co.nz
P28 Tuesday, Sept 10, 2013
Since Sept 27, 1879
Retail $1.40 Home delivered from 95c
Have you got unwanted weeds or pests?
THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY ATS has a wide range of herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides to ensure you get the best possible yield from your crop. Solvo® is a pre-emergent herbicide for the use against certain broadleaf and grass weeds in various crops.
Slugout® is a granular slug bait that offers excellent control of slugs and snails particularly during crop establishment.
Rakaia rages at cannabis shop If you require technical support for your spring pasture or cropping requirements contact the ATS Arable Key Account Managers today on 0800 BUY ATS (289 287).
For all your spring pasture and brassica seed requirements contact the ATS Seed team today on 0800 BUY ATS (289 287).
0800 BUY ATS / 0800 289 287
www.ats.co.nz
Ashburton / Methven / Rakaia
ATS_Guardian Farmer_276x100mm_0813.indd 1
BY SUE NEWMAN
kind, they said. Their comments, however, told the story of a community united against what people saw as “an unwelcome business that was bringing an unsavoury element to town”. Retailer Garry Davies has opened an R18 shop that sells, among other items, a range of synthetic cannabis products. He previously sold these from another outlet two doors down. When the Government decided the product could not be sold in the same outlet as food, he moved the product from his
SUE.N@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
Beneath its sleepy, small town surface, Rakaia is a seething mass of anger and outrage. That disquiet has just one cause – a shop with an R18 licence that sells synthetic cannabis. Yesterday Rakaia business people and those on the village’s streets were united in their concern and they were also united in their fear of speaking out. Publishing names and faces could lead to retaliation of some
gift and Filipino food shop and opened a second outlet that met new sales criteria. Locals say business is good. There are people waiting when the R18 shop opens in the morning, continuing through to a solid evening trade, particularly at the weekend. The change in Rakaia’s demographic had been quite marked since synthetic cannabis had been sold, with plenty of new faces in town, said a man who didn’t want to be named. “And we’re also seeing young
2/9/13 3:25:50 PM
people who were lively, healthy young men who have changed dramatically. They now look lethargic. The impact on this community is significant. We’re concerned that young school kids will get dragged into this too,” he said. The people of Rakaia know that no laws are being broken. If Mr Davies keeps sales to people aged 18 and over they know there’s nothing they can do to shut him down. They blame the Government for allowing synthetic cannabis to remain on
the market. The product should have been banned, they say. “They haven’t even tested this stuff; they shouldn’t have handed out any licences until it had all been tested,” one resident said. Rakaia was a small town that was working hard to create a solid community where people of all ages felt welcome and comfortable; a synthetic cannabis shop in town flew in the face of everything people were trying to achieve, they said. More stories, page 4
Four Longbeach School pupils have been busy preparing for the Junior National Chess Competition in Auckland. FULL STORY
BUFFALO/HB4589
We’re officially New Zealand’s newest bank. Call 0800 227 227 Or visit your local branch.
With roots stretching back to 1875, Heartland has a proud history of supporting small-to-medium sized businesses, farms and families in Canterbury. It’s great to offer the people of Ashburton a local banking option that is 100% for New Zealand.
P6
Ph 03 307 7900 to subscribe! 6 Months
4.00
Interest paid quarterly.
12 Months
4.25
Interest paid quarterly.
*IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Minimum term deposit investment $1,000. Interest rates subject to change. The current Heartland Bank Limited Disclosure Statement, Term Deposits Investment Statement and Account and Service General Terms and Conditions are available at any Heartland branch, at www.heartland.co.nz or by calling 0800 227 227.
Weather: High 21˚ - Overnight 10˚ Page 26
Puzzles: Page 25
Television: Page 27
Family Notices: Page 26
www.guardianonline.co.nz