FENCING LAW.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15956, 18 October 1922, Page 10

FENCING LAW.

NATIVE LANDS AND RABBIT PRECAUTIONS.

(Parliamentary Reporter). WELLINGTON, this clay. The amendment or the Fencing Act, introduced by the Minister of Internal Affairs, - lias been considered by the Statutes Revision 'Committee, which has deleted ii clause providing for the procedure under which an owner may, in a ease of default by an adjoining owner, enter upon the hitter's hind to clear noxious weeds for half a chain width along the full length of the boundary line. The Bill includes a. now provision in respect to native land, which i.s subject to the principal Fencing Act. The clause states that if an owner has failed to secure payment of half the cost of a fence from a native land owner he may, when the hind is alienated to a European, collect a proportional share of the fence from the new owner. Any dispute regarding the amount shall be determined by a magistrate. The exclusion of the South Island from the provisions of the principal Act relating' to the construction of rabbit: proof fences is to lie repealed, thus bringing that portion of Ncw Zcaland within the procedure for the recovery of half the cost of rabbit proof fences. In making his award the magistrate shall take into consideration the condition, of the rabbit pest, in the district, and the possibiliy of the land occuped by a person giving the notice becoming infested with rabbits from adjoining' land. If the magistrate decides that such consideration docs not warrant the receiver of the notice being required to contribute half the cost of the fence, but if the claimant proceeds to erect a fence at his own cost, he may. exercise complete rights of ownership therein. Power is given to issue Ordcrs-in-Council from time to time, specifying the maximum payments which may he claimed for non-rabbit proof fences.