NOXIOUS WEEDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3618, 17 July 1923, Page 43

NOXIOUS WEEDS.

A SERIOUS PROBLEM. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 10. The problem of noxious weeds in New Zealand is becoming a very serious one, and eventually it will be necessary to bring before Parliament a comprehensive scheme involving considerable expenditure in oruer to cope with it satisfactorily. Meantime some improvement is proposed in the present law in a Bill introduced in the House of Representatives to-day by the Hon. \V Nosworthy in regard to the spreading of weeds by seeding or otherwise It is proposed to take power to compel persons to get rid of weeds by pulling or grubbing in addition to cutting. _ In the second schedule blackberry, Canadian thistle, sweet briar, and ragwort are declared to be noxious weeds throughout the dominion. The new Bill empowers local bodies to declare any of them except blackberry as not noxious. There is also a provision to enable a local bodv to revoke e declaration regarding putting weeds within the noxious category. In the present law there is provision that a certain area must be cleared for a quarter of a chain along all the fences. Tins has been found to be not sufficiently elastic. The new proposal is to give inspectors power to determine the extent to which this shall be done. the owner of the land will have the right to appeal to a person appointed by the Min- ' Barberry and sweet briar have been added to the hedge plants mentioned in the original Act.° There is also a provision that hedges must be trimmed at the proper season of the year.