NOXIOUS WEEDS MENACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 12

NOXIOUS WEEDS MENACE

DIFFICULT TASK INVOLVED.

LOCAL BOARDS PROPOSAL.

AID OF COUNTY COUNCILS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Wedn«day.

The problem of noxious wee/Is is discussed by Dr. C. J. Reakes, Director-Gen-eral of Agriculture, in his annual report presented to Parliament to-day. "The officers responsible for the inspection of noxious weeds have had a hard timn, especially in those districts where ragwort is prevalent," say 3 Dr. Reakes. "They do their best, and the aggregate result of their efforts doubtless represents the exercise of a considerable amount of control, but with ragwort and blackberry especially, a full enforcement of the Act would in many cases mean asking settlers to undertake a volume of work entirely beyond the capacity of their financial resources.

"From time to time the question is raised of forming local noxious weeds boards to take over the administration of the Act. This suggestion possesses a good deal of merit in that if adopted local knowledge and local effort would be applied to local conditions. If given effect to it would undoubtedly mean that tho Government would have to ppy a con siderable subsidy, although as an offset its own expenditure upon inspection would largely disappear, and would be limited to some overseeing responsibilities. "At tho present time county councils possess powers enabling them to deal with noxious weeds, and in a few cases, by arrangement with the department, they are co-operating in noxious weeds control. Hence, a county council could undertake the duties which tho advocates of noxious weeds boards consider should be carried out by tho boards. Tho control of noxious weeds constitutes a difficult and sometimes unpleasant responsibility, and consequently tho undertaking of it can hardly be expected at first sight to appeal favourably to established county authorities, notwithstanding tho fact that, having regard to tho value of local effort in this direction, it would be a valuable forward step. "Failing the establishment of localised control, some system of co-operation botween the department and county councils, or, alternatively, local noxious weed.'! boards, would be of distinct advantage, if not involving too great expenditureAll this may appear to convey tho idea that tho department is desirous of getting others to relievo it of an arduous and difficult responsibility, but I trust it will he realised that tho expression of these views is actuated only by the genuine desire to endeavour to find the most effective and practicable method 6f dealing with uoxiou3 weeds to tho best advantage. As the success of rabbit boards has shown, organised local effort is very valuable in work of this kind.".