NOXIOUS WEEDS

Evening Star, Issue 14512, 2 November 1910, Page 2

NOXIOUS WEEDS

COPING WITH THE EVIL. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, November 2. The Hon. T. Mackenzie, in moving the second reading of the Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill, explained the genera! principles of the measure. He pointed out that it contained a number of simple clauses, and brought ragwort and blackberry within tho meaning of noxious weeds, while at’ the same time stipulating the time in which such weeds must bo cleared, i Mr Malcolm said he hoped the Bill would meet with no opposition. It was based on the recommendations of fanners’ organisations, and was a necessity. The member for Clutha went on to condemn the working of the Noxious Weeds' Department, and said that those who depended on that department depended on a broken reed. It had been a failure. .Some of the inspectors had been good men, but the department took on move than it could accomplish. He thought it would bo as well to repeal the original Act; (lien they would be compelled to look for some more otfee- ■ live way of coping with the difficulty. Mr Buchanan objected that tile Government were asking the farmer to attempt tho impossible so long as Crown land was | used as a breeding area for tho spread of noxious weeds. I Mr Anderson referred to (he growth of tho rabbit post in Otago, and said that in his district bunny had done more to break up large estates than all the Liberal legis- | lation of Hie List twenty years. I Mr G. Witty said (ho Bill was an im--1 portant one, and would give the farmers a better chance of fighting the noxious weed difficulty than they laid ever had before. The member for Riccarlon went on to refer to the good work which had been done in his electorate in keeping down the pest. They had comparatively no noxious weeds in Canterbury. Mr Anderson: They will not grow there. Mr Witty: They'arc not allowed to grow. ! Mr Massey : The bon. member stands as 1 proof to the contrary. I Mr Witty: The Leader of the Opposition l is certainly a chief amongst weeds.--(Laughter.) .Mr Allen, while approving the proposal to take away the arbitrary power of inspectors iii regard to prosecutions, suggested that in fairness to the farmer out or two assessors should sit with the magistrate in adjudicating upon such cases. Mr Field said it was necessary to have a Noxious Weeds Act enforced stonily, bin not harshly. Ho voiced a hope that Mine day a natural enemy would come along 1;. frnht its pests. Ho had been shocked U see largo areas of country where noxiuu, weeds nourished without let or hindrance The giant fescuo was spreading in the Otaki district. Mr Massey said this Bill was one of I Inmost important that had been introduced this session, and he regretted that lhe\ had not been able to devote alien tion to it at a much earlier slags. Referring to the noxious words trouble i tho North, the Loader of the Opposite said the only hope of success wan to sell! the waste Crown and native lands.- 11. urged the Minister for Horticulture to visit tho Auckland Province next blackberry season and seo for himself what a problem the settlers had to contend with. A 'cure for the blackberry evil would be worth a million p-ounds to tin's country. | The Minister, in reply, said they ought ' to aim at keeping clean the districts which are at present clean. In the South the i blackberry was being checked, but be added that some inspectors took no slops to have that noxious plant eradicated. As to experiments, the department was doing what it could in that respect. Ho would be glad to consider any reasonable amendments proposed to tha Bill. Tho second reading was agreed to on the voices.