WILD FLOWERS OF N.S.W.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 7 February 1925, Page 16

WILD FLOWERS OF N.S.W.

GREATER PROTECTION PROPOSED.

The Minister for Local Government in New South Wales (Mr. Fitzpatrick, has prepared a bill having for its object the protection of wild flowers. A number of drastic provisions have been embodied with a view of preserving the' native flora of the State. A council of any area may notify that any- wild flower is protected within its area, and such protection may be for a limited or unlimited period.

In any prosecutions proof that such protected wild fibwer was found in the possession of the defendant within the protected period will be prima facie evidence that the defendant picked such wild flower., In any prosecutions it will be a sufficient defence to prove —that the picking was accidental, ox that- the place where, the wild flower was picked was not Crown land, nor a public park, nor land dedicated or reserved for a public purpose under the Crown Lands Consolidation Act, or, if the land was private land, that the defendant had the premission of the owner or lessee to the land to pick the wild flower.

Any per soil who sells or offers or exposes for sale any protected wild flowei within the protected period will he guilty of an offence.- It will be sufficient defence in any prosecution to prove that the wild flower was grown upon private land and was picked with the consent of the owner or lessee of that land. Any authorised,' servant of the council, member of the police force, ranger or caretaker of any Crown land or public park or land dedicated or reserved for a public purpose will be empowered to stop and search for protected wild flowers any. vehicle passing through Crown land or public park inland dedicated or reserved for a public purpose, or passing along any public road. Any authorised servant of the council and any member of the police force will have power to stop and search any vehicle suspected of carrying .protected wild flowers picked in contravention of the Act wherever the vehicle may be. Any owner or lessee of private land will have power to stop and search Tor protected wild flowers any vehicle trespassing upon the land of which he is the owner or lessee. Any person convicted of an offence against the proposed Act will be liable to the'following penalties:—For a first offence, not exceedin')- £2; second offence, not exceeding £10; and for a third offence,' not exceeding £2O.