“DIRTY FARMING”

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LII, Issue 8475, 21 December 1923, Page 3

“DIRTY FARMING”

- MR NOSWOKTHY SPEAKS' OUT ’ ; Some strong speaking was indulged in by the Hon. Mr Nos worthy, Minister l of Agriculture, in replying to a deputation asking hr Government action in regard to the blackberry pest (i b ys the P"nertv Bay • "‘.Herald). let me tell you this,” said the Minister, "tha dirty condition cf the countlry at the present • time is the result of dirty farming ■ ‘ J am not casting reflection on the member's of the deputation, but I state, most emphatically, that dirty "farming ia responsible for dirty : ■" country to l a large extent The farm ers have been dirty; they have been rt'careless; now they are reaping their " reward. Let me tell you this, tec, it’s going tb be a dirty job l to ciean the country up again. A voice: The Government is the biggest sinner of the lot. The Minister; The Government might be a sinner, but it is not the only one, and, proportionately, not " , the biggest one. I could give the . names and addresses of some pretty . o big sinners not far from Poverty •. Bay. But that is beside the ques- ’ - tion; the fact reman:s that the neg-

lect of the past s'ay years is now ' reacting on the countrj as a whole, and, to l put it plainly, if pointedly, : there is a deuce of " job in front of ,/ 119 to clean things vl*■ The pofui-m 1 is l the same as vvith the native land ' question, in regard to which lhs rotten legislate m of early days has been - responsible for the continued mc-fc / in which ’hey remdn. However, x we are doing our best, and with the ■ help of the farmers* I feel sure the Government can do a great deal.