TWO INJUSTICES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 46, 31 August 1928, Page 16

TWO INJUSTICES

, NOXIOUS WEEDS MATTERS i• - / Two instances in which he considered injustice is done by the present law in , regard to the clearing of noxious weeds j were cited in the Legislative Council I yesterday by the Hon. R. Scott. , ' _ He referred in the first placo to the ! liability upon an owner of a road frontage to clear half the width of the road of weeds, 'and referred to cases ' where owners of property had - sown I gorse hedges anil the weed had spread j across the road, making the owner on I the other side responsible for clearing ! half the roadway. This he thought quite unfair, and he suggested that ' the Government should consider amending the law to put the matter right. Mr. Scott also referred to tho spread ' of sweet briar and blackberry, referring ' particularly to a large extent of the ' pastoral country in Otago aiid Canterbury. The Department of Agriculture was doing what it could to -.compel owners to clear the weeds, but there wero' large tracts .of country to bo covered, and it was very difficult for the inspectors to see into every' gully. , A large number of holders of pastoral runs and small grazing runs had ' transferred their leases to -others, and he submitted that the time had come when the transfer ofa pastoral run or ■ small grazing rnn should not bo ap- j proved by a land board'until the1 Department of Agriculture had" certified ' the land free from noxious weeds, particularly blackberry and sweet briar. Unless steps were soon taken to compel tenants to clear the ground the time would 'conic.when i-'.the' Government i would derive 'no rent i'or Crown lands, ' nor would it bo able to induce anyone to take them np. ■ The Hon. Colonel Smith asked' by what possible means blackberry and , sweet briar could be eradicated. Mr. Scott said that petrol would kill tho roots at certain • seasons of the year. , ; The Hon. J: iSarr remarked that the chief sinner in regard to roads was the Government itself. He maintained that a community rather than an individual responsibility should be'imposed, and that an insignificant rate per head should be struck in order to pay for- the cost of clearing. The actual cost per head to tho holders would then be much less than under the present, method. It would never bo effective'lo leave thc'icsponsibility to the individual. Tho Hon. Sir R. Iloaton Rhodes said he had noted the suggestions and would place them before the Minister of Agriculture. It was hoped that the Cwthroi] Instituo would be able to find a natural remedy i'or weeds.