Noxious Plants Council goes into abeyance

Press, 20 June 1986, Page 20

Noxious Plants Council goes into abeyance

Noxious plants became the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries on June 19, saving the taxpayer $lO,OOO a year.

A four-member committee will replace the 10 member Noxious Plants Council which directs the 90 district noxious plants authorities. Most of the savings will come from money formerly paid out in honorariums to private sector people on the council and travel expenses for those travelling to Wellington for monthly meetings, the council secretary, Mr Peter Winsley, said. “Basically the Ministry will be doing what it has been paying private individuals to do.”

The council will go into recess as part of the quango cutting policy of the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Palmer. None of the 140 noxious plants officers employed by the district authorities will be affected and funding for plant control will not be cut. Two field officers employed by the Noxious Plants Council will transfer to the M.A.F. In the South Island, Mr Graeme Stricken will continue to work from Nelson. The Ministry is required by law to pay half the wage bill for the officers and $2.2 million from the $4 million budget administered by the council goes towards this. Research, publicity and

special eradication projects account for $500,000. The remainder goes towards subsidising the control of Australian sedge and nassella tussock. , The council is made up of representatives from the Federated Fanners, the counties and the municipal associations, the Forest Service, the M.A.F., and the Lands and Survey Department A. commercial and technical advisor from the private sector is included and an independent chairman. A Official abolition of the council could take up to three years. The Noxious Plants Act of 1978 must be amended and the Government’s legislative programme is very crowded.