NOXIOUS WEEDS

Grey River Argus, 24 October 1934, Page 8

NOXIOUS WEEDS

NEW LEGISLATION Country Control RATING and penalising (■Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, October 20. Increased powers for the control of noxious weeds by the Agricultural Department and County Councils are given in the Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Macmillan. Provision is made for County Councils to administer the Act within their own boundaries, and to levy rates for the purpose of destroying noxious weeds. The scope of the Act, as far as the placing of plants on noxious weeds list is concerned, has not been increased. The only alteration in that direction being the more comprehensive inclusion of Sweet Brier by the addition of three varieties not previously named.

NEW FORM OF DESTRUCTION. Under the principal Act, no provision was made for the destruction of weeds with weed killers, the strict letter of the law requiring the occupier of the land affected to cut, grub or pull weeds. This has been rectified, and after the Bill is passed, any Act of destruction will suffice. MORTGAGED LAND. In the case of land subject to a mortgage or mortgages, the mortgagee or first mortgagee has been added to the persons held to be the ‘‘occupier” of the land and required to keep it clear of noxious weeds. The right of local authorities to declare ragwort not to be a noxious weed is not interfered with, but in localities where no such declaration has been made, the occupiers of land are required to clear and keep clear the whole area occupied, notice to do so no longer being required. Power is given to enforce any judgment obtained for expenses incurred in enforcing the destruction of noxious weeds in the same manner in whicti a judgment for rates may be enforced. Where a mortgagee pays any amount for the expenses incurred in clearing land under mortgage to him, the amount paid will be added to the principal secured by the mortgage, and shall be subject to interest charges, but a mortgagee may take steps to recover the money from the mortgagor.

Several methods originally provided for serving summonses on occupiers have been increased, the Bill providing that any notice under the Act may be served by being published twice in a newspaper circulating in the locality concerned.

COUNTY COUNCILS’ POWERS. Any County Council may by resolution, decide to assume the responsibility for administration of the Act within its own boundaries, and can then appoint inspectors who will have all the powers of an inspector appointed by the Department, except that they shall not have the power to enforce the Act regarding the sowing or selling of noxious seeds, or undressed seeds, or the cleaning of threshing machines or chaff-cutters before they arc moved from farm to farm. After a County has taken control of its own area for the administration of the Act, Inspectors appointed by the Department will not have powers within that County, except by direction of the Minister, and after written notice has been given to the County Coun-

WHY NOT? Unless the Minister gives authority a County Council or its inspectors will not have any powers over Maori land, not individualised or over public reserves not vested in a, trustee or local authority, or over unoccupied Crown lands. SPECIAL RATING. Power is given to a County Council that has taken control of noxious weeds within its boundaries to levy a rate for the purpose of providing funds for the destruction of noxious weeds. A rate may oe levied on rateable value of land, or on the of the acreage of land. In the former case, the maximum rate levied in any one year shall not exceed one halfpenny in the pound on the capital value, or sixpence per acre, and sixpence per acre is fixed as the maximum when a rate is levied on an acreage basis. Provision is made for the subdivision of a county for the purpose of levying varying 'rates, but before any rate may be struck, all laud in the county must be classified into “Class A lands, to receive immediate ami direct benefit by the expenditure of money collected by the rate; Class B lands, to receive less direct benefit, and Class C, all other lands. The rate is to be levied ,on Class A and B lands in such proportions as the County appoints. For the purpose of serving notices under the Act, references that allow no reasonable doubt as to the land referred to will be considered sufficient, and inspectors may not be held to be trespassers in entering property to carry out their duties.

Imprisonment not exceeding one year, with a fine of not less than £2O, and not more than £lOO, is provided as a penalty for any person who personates or falsely represents himself to be an inspector or an inspectors’deputy under principal Act. In any proceedings for recovery of money owing for the destruction of weeds ordered by an inspector or for fines imposed for failure to destroy weeds, the jurisdiction of the .Court

will not be affected by any question of title to the land. The Bill was read a second time, pro forma and referred to the Lands Committee. APPLE CHEESE-CAKES. 1 cupful apple pulp flavoured with lemon juice. Fether-Flake pastry. 1 egg (yolk and white separated). Line some patty pans with the Fether-Flake rolled thinly, fill with the thick stewed apple to which the yolk of egg has been added. Bake in a good oven about, 20 minutes. Beat up white of egg stiffly, add 1 tablespoon sugar. Pile on top of each tartlet. Put back into cool oven to brown slightly. FETHER-FLAKE (Regd.) is perfect puff pastry ready to bake. Nothing to add, no mixing needed. Ideal for all pies, tarts and pastries. 8d per lb at the Ernest Adams Ltd. Cake Shop