NOXIOUS WEEDS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 71, 22 September 1919, Page 10

NOXIOUS WEEDS

DECISIONS OF FARMERS.

Mr. E. Dunn (Taranaki) moved at the Farmers' Conference last week : — "That in the opinion of this conference, noxious weeds have become such a nuisance as to warrant a complete i change in the provisions for their control, and would advise the following : — That legislation be passed providing that, on the petition of one or more local bodies or a proportion of the ratepayers of any district, a Noxious: Weeds Board may be set up consisting of local representatives, either by election or nomination, with say, a representa-

tive o£ the department. The board to have powers including the following :— (1) Classifying iind dividing the district under their control in areas (not necessarily continuous) such as, s,ay (a) clean, (b) fairly clean, (c) bad, but recliiimable, (d) extremely bad. (2) Differential rating powers either for purposes of providing funds for management for the work of weed suppression or as security for loans to be raised for the same purpose. (3) To enforce the control or eradication of weeds in any part of the ■ area under their control, either by the owner or holder. (4) To, on failure of above, carry out the work at cost of owner or holder, or out of rates or loan, (b) To obtain through the Court an order empowering the taking over on valuation any land which it has been proved to

the satisfaction of the Court that the practical reclamation for farming purposes is impossible. (6) And tor the board to undertake the suppression by afforestation or other means." The motion was carried. In connection with this matter Mr. G. W. Leadley complained of the administration, pointing out tnat there were parts of the country where weeds had taken possession of the lsuid, and no attempt had ever been made to combat the nuisance. In other places where the nuisance was not so bad, action was taken. A remit from Auckland was as follows:—"That the Department of Agriculture be asked to provide increased inspection in the extermination of rabbits and noxious weeds." The remit was adopted.

"That the Agricultural Department bo requested to declare lantena a noxious shrub, and prohibit any lantana seed being imported into this country," was amotion by Mr. J. H. M'Leavy. The weed referred to was, he said, fortunately unknown to most farmers. Locally ifc was known only as a flower in gardens, but its spread should be prevented. Dr. Reakes offered no objection to the motion, which was carried. It was also decided: "That the Department of Agriculture be asked to institute research for the pumose of miding means to cope with tin creeping or water fern, which is a great pest to settlers on the high lands of the North Wellington and Taranaki provinces." Dr. Reakes mentioned that the Department was making a special investigation into this noxious weed.