NOXIOUS WEEDS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 111, 1 July 1911, Page 5

NOXIOUS WEEDS.

HON. T. MACKENZIE’S VIEWS. (Per Press Association.) Napier, June 30. The Hon. T. Mackenzie visited Tikokino on Wednesday, and met some twenty Waikarara settlers in connection with the Noxious Weeds Act. The district in question is reported to bo badly affected with Californian thistle, and recently a number of settlors wore lined. All present represented that they were quite unable to comply with the requirements of the Act. In replying, tho Minister said that a crisis had been reached in the history of somo districts with noxious weeds. Ho pointed out to those who were advocating that tho Act be suspended the serious results likely to follow. Immediately a district was gazetted_ as weed-infected tho products coming from that locality would bo greatly handicapped. Seed, chaff, and even grain would be looked at askance, ana as a Seeds Purity Bill would be probably placed on the Statute Book at an early date' seeds unless properly cleaned wmdd come within tho scope of that measure’s operations. The problem was a difficult one, and it was receiving his most careful consideration, with a view to endeavouring to involve a modus operand! which would in a degree meet the situation. Of course, if farmers whose property was free from the Californian thistle looked with indifference upon what was occupying tho land, and gave no indications of simport to the very arduous and disa greeablo duties which the inspectors had to carry out, tho fact might have a considerable influence in any future line of action. Tho cost at the present time was great, and the work exceedingly unpleasant.