VERMIN AND WEEDS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 148, 26 June 1925, Page 3

VERMIN AND WEEDS

CHANGE OF POLICY IN

VICTORIA

ZONING SYSTEM TO BE USED

A change of policy in connection, with the destruction of vermin and the eradication of noxious weeds has been decided upon by the Victorian Minister o£ Lands (Mr. Downward), states tho Melbourne "Age." There has recently been much dissatisfaction in many parts of the State with the administration of the Vermin and Noxious Weeds Act. Although large 'sums/have been expended on the eradication o£ weeds by the Department of Lands and by private land owners, the spread of weeds has not been checked. In fact, the""growth of weeds is even greater now in cer- , tain areas of the State than before the act became operative. A bad feature also is that clean areas are becoming in; , fested. The eradication of these weeds has been a big burden on land owners. The Minister has decided that until an amendment of the act -can be carried through Parliament he will not authorise the i prosecution of land owners who do not comply with tha provisions of the act relating to the eradication of weeds. Mr. Downward proposes to introduce the zoning system in connection with the eradication of weeds, the cost of the zoning to be borne by the land owners.' Crown lands weed infested will be zoned at the of the Crown. In connection with the destruction of rabbits, Mr. Downward, under the powers conferred on him by tho Act, intends "to suspend prosecutions for non-compliance with the provisions'relating to destruction between April and August in each year. In explanation of his proposals, Mr. Downward said that hitherto inspectors had been summonsing land owners who did not destroy rabbits on 1 their property, practically all the year round. Ha had decided that no prosecutions would be launched from Ist April until 31st August each year. In this period land owners could have their land cleared of rabbits by trappers, who, during the ■winter months, found a good market i both for the skins and the carcasses ; during those months, therefore trapping j would provide employment for a large number of men. The trade 'in skins and carcasses for export was also valuable. At the close of the winter months, however, he proposed to deal severely with land owners who had not taken advantage of this opportunity to rid themselves, of the rabbits without expense to themselves, by the employment of trappors, or who wero not adopting any other methods to keep down the Pest. Between October and the end of March destruction of vermin would h* ' insisted upon by tho Department. ' The spread of noxious weeds, Mr. Downward continued, was becoming serious. The expenditure by the Department on weed eradication for the year S IQR?Sn 30th J -Jnne had counted to :boO,UUU, and two grants of £10,000 each had been spent upon eradicating weeds on Crown land. No headway was being made against the spread o"f the weeds. Land owners were finding the burden very heavy. Weeds destroyed last year wero reappearing this year. He .bad decided,] therefore, to seek an amendment of tho Act, providing for the zoning of areas infested with weeds and until Parliament had had an opportunity to discuss the question, he would not authorise any prosecutions, lne Crown was also finding it difficult to provide money for the eradication of weeds on Crown lands. The grants for the purpose, were exhausted? and people were complaining thaf Crown private ft/ "j" 1 .™* ™c Meeting rw i j ad J°""ng them. The oSfanS 6"19 3S ™" 3S **•**■