CONTROL OF NOXIOUS WEEDS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23447, 30 September 1941, Page 3

CONTROL OF NOXIOUS WEEDS

♦ ACTION TAKEN BY AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL The chairman of the Akaroa County Council (Mr E. Hay) has reported that he interviewed tr?h Hon. J, G. Barclay (Minister for Agriculture) in Wellington about the eradication of noxious weeds in the county, and the proposal that the county should take over, the administration of the Noxious Weeds Act in its district. Two officers of the Department of Agriculture had been present at the interview. Mr Hay stated that he had informed the Minister that the county would not administer the act unless a substantial subsidy, which could be expended over a term of at least 15 years, was received from the Government. He said that the rating powers given under the act provided an amount from this source which was quite inadequate. The Minister in reply pointed out that if the Government made a grant to the Akaroa County Council for the eradication of gorse they would be creating a precedent. He would, however, consult the Hon. W. Nash, and notify the council. Mr Hay said officers of the department had questioned him about the extent of the spread of gorse on Banks Peninsula, and agreed that the County Council could handle the eradication plan better than anyone else. He had told the department that the present state of affairs was caused by the neglect of its inspecting officers. In answer to a question as to whether the council would undertake to confine gorse to its present limits and deal immediately with the outskirts he had stated that unless substantial financial aid was given, the County Council .could not act in the matter. The council has, so far, received no reply from the Minister. Later in the meeting a deputation from the Canterbury Progress League waited on the council to discuss the noxious weeds problem on Banks Peninsula, when the problem was fully discussed. _______