NOXIOUS WEEDS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1687, 29 June 1904, Page 51

NOXIOUS WEEDS

(From Our Own Corespondent.)

At a recent meeting of the Rangitikei County Council, Mr H. J. Cameron and a number of ratepayers attended and presented a largely signed petition praying that the Council do not declare gorse a noxious weed.—Tlie chairman (Councillor Marshall) stated that the matter xvas to come up for discussion before the meeting adjourned, and therefore had pleasure" in inviting tlie deputation to express their viexvs l on tlie question as it xvould assist the Council to determine what steps to adopt. The spread ing of gorse had been brought under their notice on sex r eral occasions, and to take no action was simply making matters xvorse. Gorse had been allowed to spread until it had got a chain or. txvo in xvidth, rendering property absolutely valueless for grazing and agricultural purposes. He questioned whether it xvas nqt better for all concerned to take some immediate action to eradicate the gorse. He referred to several noxious xveedswhich Government had compelled landowners to eradicate, and although this had to be done at considerable expense to them, it had been a public benefit. Again, rabbits liad also threatened to ruin the country, and steps had to be taken to prevent them doing so. Therefore, he did not see xvhy action should not be taken to stop the groxvth of gorse. He xvas of opinion tlie Act xvould not he strictly enforced in compelling oxvners to effect a clearing at once. On the other hand, considerable latitude xvould be alio xved in this respect. He believed it wonld be a public advantage to declare gorse a noxious xveed. The longer they put tlie matter off the xvorse the gtoxvth would become. Councillor Fraser said he was strongly against Government administering the Act. They had too much poxver {already. Messrs Huddlestone and Crockett, Government Inspectors, were called in, and in reply to questions from the chairman, stated that they did not think they would be called upon ,to adopt extreme measures, and ample time would also be alloxved farm-, era to eradicate the gorse. They could use a discretionary poxver, and Council could also recommend to tlie Minister what xvork they considered it xvas only necessary to undertake. The deputation then retired and later on in the afternoon the chairman brought forxvard his motion held over from previous meeting, to declare gorse a noxious xveed in the county. The motion was seconded by Councillor Newman, and after a brief discussion it was put to the meeting and declared lost, being supported only by the mover and seconder. Councillor Simpson said he felt obliged to oppose the motion, as he had been all through the district, .and there had been a general outcry against placing tlie matter under the control of tlie Government.