FIGHTING NOXIOUS WEEDS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 July 1926, Page 2

FIGHTING NOXIOUS WEEDS.

LEGISLATION A FAILURE. WELLINGTON. July ”■ In a st-ituneml in the House today, Mr o. .1. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, said the. Government realises the importance of the noxious weeds menace, and no elfort that will assist in bringing this very costly nuisance under control, will Ue lacking.

On its pari ii desires, however, to point out liuo I In: control and ultimate eradicate n of noxious woods, is not primarily a matter for legislative adieu by the Government, but is one for sustained and timely work by the occupier of the land on which the plants are growing-. It Is futile to expect that a widespread infestation of a noxious plan;, can be effectively coped with by I’ar'damem or by the Government, unless their action is fully supported by an cn. lightened and thoroughly earnest public opinion throughout the district

concerned, ami by landholders as a whole flearing (In dr own weeds, and using their influence to induce others to do ‘likewise. It is intended to introduce a measure to improve the working cl the Noxious Weeds Ac;, but ilie principal desideratum must continue to be that occupiers of land will give practical support to the inspectors in their too often thankless; endeavours to cope with the nuisance. The Ministei in replying to a suggestion that Noxious Weeds Boards, on the lines of Rabbit Boards, should be established, said that this was unsound, because those with clear properties would object to paying rates for Hie man with weeds on his land. Mr W. D. l.jsnar (Gisborne); Give them a trial and see. The Minister continued that no other country in the world was continuing with legislation as New Zealand was. All had given up the efforts to eradicate the noxious weeds, recognising that it was more a question for the individual farmer. New Zealand had made a great mistake in spending thousands of pounds, first on the Scotch thistle Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central): Another victory for Scotland. The Minister went on that after giving up file attempts to eradicate this, the Californian thistle and then ihe fox,glow had been abandoned. "If I le d half a million jiounds to spend eveyr year,” he said, .“it could not produce the desired result. There is a wrong feeling among our fanners, and I am afraid there are large numbers of very dirty and careless farmers in the country. This feeling should not prevail. The Gov. eminent intends to help the inspectors to force the farmers to clear their farms.’’ Mr Lysnar: That is no good. The Minister; The Boards would not bo viewed with favour by the fanners themselves. Mr Lysnar: You have not glyen them a chance. The Minister: 1 would be glad to, if 1 could get rid of the responsibility of the weeds. In the ease of ragwort, the Minister said, efforts should be made to eradicate this in dairying lands, but in some distr.cts it was impossible to attempt a general eradication. “If I were to try and force farm, ers in the King Country to do this,’’ ho said, “twenty-five per cent, of them would walk off their farms. Uis just ibe same with blackberry. The whole question has the world over been found to be one for the individual farmer.”