Menace of Noxious Weeds

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 255, 24 July 1937, Page 13

Menace of Noxious Weeds

Sir, —Now is the time when plans should be laid for dealing effectively with noxious weeds during the coming growing season. I think New Zealand must just about hold the ’world championship for variety and quantity of these, and they are increasing every year. British fair play is all very well in its way, but it is dangerous policy when applied to weeds. If we are going to cope successfully with ragwort, blackberry, gorse and variegated thistle, we will have to adopt far more drastic measures than have been used up to the present. A national scheme will require to be evolved and energetically put into practice without fear or favour. All worth-while lands under noxious weeds, whether State or privately-owned, should be carefully inspected in the very early spring, just when the weeds are beginning to come away. And such lands should be valued in their then state. In cases where owners or lessors are financially in a position to clear them, they should be compelled to do so under penalty of a heavy fine, reasonable time, of course, being allowed for this work to be carried out. And they should be not only temporarily cleared, but maintained in that state. In the event of a man who is in a position to do so persisting in failing to have this work done, the land so infested should be taken over by the Government at valuation based on its existing condition. It should 'then be cleared by unemployed labour, and suitable settlers placed upon it. There will be found, of course, some instances where a farmer who, though doing his best to keep Ills land clean, is either through lack of finance or other disability unable to do so. All reasonable assistance should be given to these people. Of course no one who is making honest and fair progress should be interfered with. I wish it to be clearly understood that good wire fencing, and plenty of it, must be the main foundation of such a national scheme. Ragwort can best be kept down by sheep, but to effectively and safely do this, ample subdivision is necessary. Costs of wire fencing are now so prohibitively high, chiefly owing to the excessive prices of both plain and barbed wire, that it seems to me that some sort of State assistance is urgently necessary to overcome this difficulty. May I say that any Government subsidy or other form of help that might ho given would be amply repaid by the all-round benefit that would accrue to the whole of New Zealand, for: (1) All worth-while deteriorated lands would be reclaimed; (2) unemployment would be greatly reduced in the most economic way; (3) all stock would be enormously increased and improved greatly in health and quality; (4) many of our worst noxious weeds would be checked and eventually eradicated in the best and cheapest manner by the stock; (5) vastly increased revenue would accrue to the Stale through resultant increased production ami prosperity: (6) the railways ami all other Government, and private transport services would benefit: (7) sawmills ami other timber concerns would greatly increase their turnover through stimulated demand for fencing strainers, posts and battens. This would, of course, entail the employment of more men. Aud finally may I point out that much of the benefit that should be derived from topdressing is lost without adequate subdivision. The opinions expressed in this letter are the outcome of a lifetime’s practical experience of breaking-in all classes of country. I have voiced similar views many times, but little notice seems to have' been taken of them. Yet 1 will venture to say that there is nothing that could be done that would make a greater contribution to the all-round prosperity of this Dominion than a well-carried-out plan such as I have indicated. Whether this appeal is successful or not. this is the last time I will make it. I am getting tired of hammering away at a thing which should be self-evident to all who have any practical knowledge of farming. T have no axe to grind, for I can still afford to buy what wire we need, hut I know that there are many who cannot. If some such scheme as I have rougblv outlined was properly implemented. T am sure that even our friend Mr. James Siddells would soon find that lie had no further need to worry about closer settlement around Wanganui. Bui my recent practical experience Jeads me to'take‘the view that there is no real land hunger just now in New Zealand. On dairying land it will lie necessary to deal with ragwort by means of sodium chlorate or some other such way. and at all places which are inaccess»able tn to sheep it should be eradicated by hand. —I am, etc., G. F. MOORE. Bushy Park. July 20.