Decision to apply for costs upsets farmers

Press, 5 September 1983, Page 4

Decision to apply for costs upsets farmers

North Canterbury Federated Farmers are upset about the Ministry of Agriculture’s decision to apply for court costs against three Canterbury farmers who lost a challenge in the High Court last year relating to the potato cyst nematode regulations. The Ministry had successfully defended itself against actions brought by the three potato growers who sought to show that the Ministry did not have adequate evidence on which to declare or quarantine their land under the potato cyst nematode regulations.

The chairman of the agriculture section of North Canterbury Federated Farmers, Mr G. E. J. Hutton, said that he was appalled and dismayed at the decision of the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Maclntyre, and the Director-General of Agriculture, Mr M. L.

Cameron, to apply for costs of $15,600. “The handling of this whole case by the Ministry leaves much to be desired, but now to demand court costs as well would suggest that it is totally insensitive and unconcerned as to its public image,” Mr Hutton said.

After suspected outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease at Temuka and Warkworth, compensation for the farmers’ losses had been paid by the nation, said Mr Hutton. “Why then should potato cyst nematode, which was also believed to have been a threat to the nation and the potato industry, be any different from foot-and-mouth disease that may have been on the properties?

“Is it ignorance of the facts on the Minister’s and Director-General’s behalf, or is it incompetence on

their advisers’ behalf that they did not understand the situation that existed? “From the information and knowledge that has come forward since the court case, it could appear that some of the evidence by the Ministry could be open to question,” Mr Hutton said.

The provincial president, Mr F. A. Bull, said that applying for costs was “like giving the knife a final twist.”

The agriculture section decided to write to the Minister expressing disappointment about the decision to apply for costs.