WEEDS CONTROL

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26266, 10 November 1950, Page 8

WEEDS CONTROL

CONSOLIDATING BILL INTRODUCED

SUBSIDY FOR COST OF TREE PLANTING

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 9.

With the object of improving and simplifying the machinery for dealing with weed infestation, a Noxious Weeds Bill was brought down in the House of Representatives to-night. Implementing the recommendations of a specially-appointed committee, the bill is largely a consolidation of existing legislation. There is provision for a subsidy towards the cost of tree planting in selected areas as a means oi controlling the spread of weeds, and there is a clearer definition of what constitutes unoccupied Crown land and Maori land where the clearing of weeds is a State responsibility. The schedule of what are regarded as “statutory” weeds and those which may be declared by a local authority has been revised. Local authorities are also given power to declare plants to be noxious weeds in specific parts as well as for the whole of its district.

The propagating, sowing, or sale of two varieties of hawthorn or of water hyacinth is absolutely prohibited. A local body is given power to acquire land within its jurisdiction if it is necessary to control the spread of weeds. Local bodies may operate jointly in weed control. The Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake) said that the bill had been approved by the Counties’ Association and Federated Farmers.

Mr T. H. McCombs (Opposition, Lyttelton): Will county uouncillors have to grub their own gorse? Mr Holyoake: I hope they will do it without compulsion. The Minister said that the legislation should help local bodies to deal more effectively with what was in every sense a growing problem. The previous Government had drafted the bill several years ago, but did not introduce it.