POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11798, 30 July 1900, Page 6

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(Fkom Opr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 29. NOXIOUS WEEDS.

One of the most important measures dealt with this session, as far ac the farming community is concerned, is the Noxious Weeds Bill, which passed through committee on Friday night, with certain modifications. The question was discussed in the most friendly spirit, and the debate wa3 entirely free from party bias, being mainly carried on by about a .dozen ex-pert farmers, of whom about half were from the Auckland province. The provisions of the bill are less drastic than the proposals contained in previous Noxious Weeds Bills; indeed, it is hardly possible to conceive of a more mo-derate measure, if there is to be any legislation at all dealing with noxious wesds. Tho Hon. T. Duncan, the Minister in charge of the bill, i,i himself a practical farmer, and no one know-3 bolter than he does the difficulty of attacking tho evil without inflicting serious hardships on tnrmers. I ±e was most conciliatory, and was quite willing to agree to any modification much those who had a practical knowledge of the question thought reasonable and desirable. As an additional safeguard, an amendment was inserted which gave a farmer who considered that the circumstances of his case made it ruinous or impossible to give effect to all the provisions of the bill the right to lay his case before the inspector, who is to have power to modify the requirements of the ! act in special cases of this kind. The bill ! ready applies only to blackberry, sweetbriar, and Cahfornian thistle, though other plants may be declared noxious weed* by the local authorities of the district. All that is required is that the plants shall be kept cut or grubbed up, so as to prevent them from flowering.

A QUIET WEEK. ' The past week has been very quiet from a political point of view, and things ore likely to remain somewhat dull until the Financial Statement makes its appearance, which will probably be next week. The Premier seems to be by no means anxious to force business ahead, and is quite content, for reasons best known to himself, to let things jog quietly along-. It seems that the more important and exciting business, such as the liquor question, ocean mail service, and 'railway construction, will not be dealt with till the latter part of the session.

PERSONAL,

The Hon. John M'Kenzie is not progressing so rapidly as his friends, could desire. He takes no further interest in politics, and has sent his son. Mi- Duncan M'Kenzie, up to Wellington for hi« papers.