NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1934, Page 2

NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL

LOCAL BODIES’ OPINION NO POWER OVER CROWN LANDS. LITTLE ADVANTAGE SEEN IN BILL. A copy of the Noxious Weeds Bill was discussed at the quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association at Eltham yesterday when it was left to the executive to frame an expression of opinion of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association. The chief objection expressed was that the Bill did not bring Crown and native lands within its scope. Mr. W. C. Green saw another weakness, that of enforcing payment of the noxious weed rate against the settler who had no money. The local body would be faced with having to stand the cost of eradication in such cases. Mr. A. L. Campbell considered the Bill was not much use unless reserves and Crown lands came within the powers of the local bodies. The chairman said they had asked for all lands to be subject to the provisions of the Bill. Mr. Green questioned whether a local body would be responsible for clearing weeds even if it struck a rate of 6d an acre. Mr. Vickers said they had been battling against the spread of noxious weeds for years. The question now was whether they could give better supervision as local bodies with their own inspectors? Inspectors had to be men of discrimination and common sense and he believed local control would accomplish better results. He thought too much was being made of the penal clauses of the Bill. These would give better control of noxious weeds and if that were so it was a step in the right direction. Crown lands were under the jurisdiction of the department, and if there was an area of Crown land infested with weeds the county council would exercise its influence to have the weeds eradicated. The chairman said that if the farmer did not kill his weeds a rate would have to be struck, but this would be insufficient for the purpose.

DIFFICULTY OF CLEARING LAND.

Mr. Green said he had a property surrounded by weeds and it cost him £lOO a year to keep his own land clear from his neighbours’ seed. He did not think a 6d rate would go far, and he would be pleased to have his weeds cleared even at a 2s rate. A half-penny rate would not be very helpful On low-valued land, but it might be useful in preventing the spread of weeds in clean country where it could be done at small cost. Mr. J. E. Campbell said the Unemployment Board had a special scheme for ragwort eradication. Mr. Green said this had transport difficulties as far as the back country was concerned. He added that the Bill offered no advantage to his own county. It was only the man with clean country who would pay the rate; the others would not.

Mr. Anderson advocated putting up a fight to have Crown lands brought under the Bill. They were the biggest offenders, he said. The chairman said the Government had taken no notice of their suggestions.

Mr. Green suggested that the matter be left to the executive to draw the Minister’s attention to their requirements.

Mr. A.. L. Campbell expressed disappointment with the provisions of the Bill as regards bringing Crown and native lands under its control, and said that to this extent it did not meet the position. Mr. Stuart raised the question of the non-paytnent of subsidy by . the Highways ■ Board on royalties paid by local bodies for metal fox" main highways.. After a brief discussion it was decided that each local body bring the matter before the Highways Board on its visit this week. It was urged" that the payment should be restored.

Those present were Messrs. J. B. Murdoch (Hawera County), chairman, R, Stuart (Inglewood County), A. L. Campbell (Eltham County), F. Mourie and J. S. McKay (Waimate West County), W. C. Green (Egmont County), H. A. Foreman and G. F. Rowe (Clifton County), W. Marr and M. C. Crighton (Kaponga Town Board), J. Brown (New Plymouth Borough), J. E. Campbell (Hawera Borough), T. R. Anderson (Stratford County), J. Mackay and S. Vickers (Taranaki County).