THE “YELLOW PERIL.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 February 1926, Page 4

THE “YELLOW PERIL.”

MENACE OF RAGWORT

COUNTY COUNCILLORS’ OPINION. Further ventilation to the question of noxious weeds menace in the province, which has appeared prominently m local body discussions recently, was afforded at the monthly meeting of the Egmont County Council yesterday, when the following resolution was adopted: — , “That this council urges upon the Minister of Agriculture the necessity for taking immediate steps to ascertain the best procedure to be adopted to combat the serious menace of noxious ■weeds. ’ ’ , The discussion and motion was tne outcome of representations made by a deputation consisting of Messrs. A. B. Hicks (president) and C. .T. Harris (vice-president), representing the North Taranaki Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Mr. Hicks explained that liis committee wished to call attention to the op eration of the Noxious Weeds Act and its effect on the control and eradication of weeds, and to ask for the consideration of amendments whereby more effective measures might be taken to deal with the menace. The position was becoming exceedingly grave in the northern districts, particularly in the back country areas, where ragwort was taking possession of the land to an alarming extent, and it appeared that if the present methods of meeting it were not greatly improved upon, the whole of the country would fall into the grip of the pest as the result of seed blowing in from the back country. Whereas a few years ago ragwort had been non-existent on the speaker’s property at Tikorangi, a considerable amount of labour had been necessary this season to remove signs of the weed. In further stressing the gravity of the question, Mr. Hicks said, “Not only will ragwort unless checked mean ruination to much of the best of our lands, but it has also poisonous and often fatal effects on sheep and cattle. ’ ’

COUNCIL CONTROL SUGGESTED. Farmers throughout the country, continued Mr. Hicks, had been endeavouring to find a remedy, and in the opinion of his executive the solution lay in control by the local bodies in the different areas. It had been found that Government control was too slow. Inspectors acted for the department, but by the time they had reported cases of failure to cut weeds and headquarters had taken action —if action was taken the -weed had flowered and the seeds had spread to infect further areas. Even when legal action followed an inspector’s report, the fine of £2 was a hopelessly' inadequate penalty, as to meet the fine -would usually be much less expensive than the labour required to eradicate the weed. In some cases, said Mr. Hicks, the labour expenses would probably equal the value of the land. The question of local knowledge required to deal with the matter must also be considered, and members of local bodies would be much better acquainted with conditions than members of weeds boards, the constitution of which had been mooted in other centres. Weeds boards would also entail unnecessary duplication of offices. Further, it was to a council’s own interest to look after its assets, and it would be readily' conceded, that these must depreciate greatly if the menace was not checked. Local bodies were also best fitted to take action jn respect of Gov eminent and native lands, -which were generally' regarded as the greatest source of trouble.

As the result of representations made by the Farmers'" Union Executive, the Taranaki and Clifton County Councils had agreed to place the matter before the counties conference, and the speaker had been pleased to note that the Eltham County Council had also urged the necessity for action in the right quarter. He hoped that the Egmont Council would give support to the proposition to bo placed before the conference.

To the chairman (Cr. W. C. Green) Mr. Hicks said that the alternative to local body control was the formation of boards with power to levy rates. BEYOND SETTLERS’ POWERS.

The chairman agreed that Government control left a great deal to be desired. He intimated that the Government by its neglect had simply allowed the weeds to flourish and seldom if ever brought pressure to bear on offending land occupiers. Some y<jars ago departmental authority had been more drastic, but now it was exceedingly lax. Cr. Green thought that the Government should be impressed with the gravity of the situation, to cope with which, he considered, was getting beyond the powers of many settlers. A few years ago a day’s work would have been sufficient to clear certain properties, but at present three weeks or a month’s labour ■would have but little effect on the same holdings. Unless Government assistance was forthcoming, however, he did not favour the proposition . that local bodies should oe asked to assume control, and he was strongly of the opinion that farmers should protest to the department and force it to take the necessary action.

Mr. Harris concurred in the opinions expressed concerning inadequate control by the Government. The purpose of the deputation, however, was to request the council to give its support to the endeavour being made to reach a solution of the difficulty, as the time had arrived w-lien united action should bo taken by farmers to ensure the best possible protection.

UNITED ACTION URGED. Cr. «T. S. Tosland thought the remedy lay with the farmers themselves. He pointed out that in the Minister of Agriculture the country had a practical farmer who fully appreciated the position and would extend his wholehearted co-operation, and if farmers Would individually and collectively get to work it should be possible to effecta clearance of ragwort and other weeds. Ho thought the council should have power as a body to make the clearance of noxious weeds a first charge on the land, and at certain periods of the year a board should travel the district with power, if necessary, to even seize the land in order to force a clearance. If local bodies were empowered to deal with defaulters they would be able to compel land occupiers to keep their properties clean. The chairman assured the deputation that the council would combine with the other authorities when the matter was considered at the conference.- He further suggested that the council should send a deputation to the Minister whilst the latter was in the district. "We have enough noxious'weeds in the Parihaka estate to pollute the whole of the Dominion,’’ he said.

"The question is of such wide importance that only the Government has power to tackle it,” said Cr. G. Gibson, who thought that while the Govern-

ment might be culpable to a certain extent (as prevention was undoubtedly better than cure), the farmers were also partly to blame for not insisting on sterner measures. He was opposed to county councils being asked to assume control as their respective areas were too circumscribed, and difficulty would be experienced in the case of boundary properties which, owing to laxity' on the part of one authority, might infect those in neighbouring areas where everything possible to keep the land clear was being done. ‘ ‘ Like the prickly pear problem in Australia,” continued Cr. Gibson, "the noxious weeds menace in the Dominion has become a national question, and the only solution is in strict supervision bv the Government.”

After further comment, the resolution already' mentioned was moved by Cr. Gibson and, seconded by Cr. Toslqnd, was adopted.