NOXIOUS WEEDS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 2 April 1927, Page 14

NOXIOUS WEEDS

There are some rather striking alterations of the law concerning the destruction of noxious weeds in Australia/ In the past certain weeds have been declared noxious all over the State, but such declaration proved ineffective for the want of machinery to enforce it. Under the new law the weeds that have been or may hereafter be declared noxious throughout the State must forthwith be destroyed by the occupier, or, if there be no occupier, by the owner, and the land must be kept free from weeds. The penalty is up to £SO, and this may he inflicted again and again until the weeds are eradicated. A striking innovation is contained in the following clause.: “Proceedings for the recovery of a penalty under this section may be instituted by the council or by any person.” In other words, a person who lias Tiis land free from weeds can himself take action against a. neighbour who allows his land to remain a seed bed for the spread of weeds. It is a section, however. which is capable .of abuse, and will probably lead to some bitter quarrels. The duty of destroying weeds on roads is also altered. If tlie road adjoining a block is fenced on both sides the owner lias no liability to destroy weeds. If it be fenced on one side only the adjoining owner on the unfenced side may be compelled by the council tu destroy weeds on the road. If it is unfenced, each owner destroys for half the width.