THE HAWTHORN HEDGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 21 March 1921, Page 4

THE HAWTHORN HEDGE

HAWTHORN DECLARED A .VOX 10US WEED (l'.y Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The second reading of the Noxious Weed* Amendment was moved by Hon. W. Nosworthy, who suid it included liii wthorn in" the noxious weed schedule. ,and made it an oifence hereafter to plant hawthorn. This is an endeavour to check firoblight. Speaking on the Noxious Weeds Kill. .Mr Atmoiv said that the dairying aim other industries had been assisted by the Government in the past, while fruit had struggled on and especially during the war, against great diflicul ties. Fruitgrowing should he eu'ially nursed iu the present stage of ts existence. it was going 10 l>o« ~mc of the greatest importance to New Zealand, and th<. Government would be miile iustilied in making payments out'of tlte Consoldated l l 'uud to fight tiro-blight instead of calling on orchardists themselves to provide funds. Compensation should be paid just I he. same tor I bo destruction to cheek lire blight, as for cattle condemned because ot disease.

Mr Hudson said the destruction of hawthorn hedges might mean a i< mporary injury to the dairying industry in some districts; bft if fire blight were not checked, it meant the absolute ruin' of fruitgrowing. There should be some appeal to the Minister, if a local authority failed to take the steps necessary to prevent the spread of the disease by hawthorn Hedges. There was need'for closer Customs inspection to prevent the introduction of disease from abroad. He joined with Mr Almore in urging the co-oper-ation of the Government with'the exports on the staff of Cawthron institute.

The Hill was pulled through the tin;il stages and passed. Tin? House rose at 3.5!) p in. .until 1.1 a.m. to-day, when Mr Massey is expected to make an important speech in moving the second reading ->f the Finance Bill. On Saturday Mr Atmorc telegraphed explaining tlie Bill. In addition to the above lie said that local bodies may make an order limiting the provision of the Act to part only of a district.