PERHAPS COMPENSATION IS HARDSHIP SUFFERED

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6668, 23 July 1928, Page 9

PERHAPS COMPENSATION IS HARDSHIP SUFFERED

LOST HAWTHORN HEDGES. Times Special. From Our Parliamentary Reporter. ' WELLINGTON, July 20. A promise to look into special eases of hardships in the Palmerston District caused through the operation of the ban on hawthorn hedges was made by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. O. J. Hawken, in the House of Representatives to-night when the Orchard and Garden Diseases Consolidation Bill was jn committee. Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston North) said that the law had caused considerable hardship in his electorate as settlers ha’d been compelled to uproot live fences and replace them with expensive fences of other types. He thought some assistance should be given by the State.. The Minister said he knew there had been complaints in the Palmerston district coiiccrning the ban on. hawthorn hedges, which had had to bo removed owing to the risk of flreblight which did considerable damage to orchards. However, not many complaints had been received recently. The Act had been administered with discretion in order to minimise - the cost to tho settlors. Whether the State should bear the cost of removing the: hedges and replacing them with fences, or whether the cost should be borne by the settler concerned was a questions of policy, and hitherto the policy had been that no compensation should bo paid. • - /■' j However, if Mr. Nash would supply hint with the ’ names of settlers who had had a struggle to comply with the law and also with details he would be glad to look into such cases.