NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1935, Page 14

NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL

FARMERS’ UNION REQUEST EGMONT COUNTY’S ATTITUDE. RESPONSIBILITY NOT TO BE TAKEN. A letter from the North Taranaki provncial executive of the Farmers’ Union was received by the Egmont County Council yesterday urging the necessity of the council considering the taking over of control of weeds throughout the district in the interests of settlers. In conveying the resolution carried at a recent meeting of the union the letter pointed out that, although the taking over of control by a local body did not bring in Crown and Native lands, the Department had set aside £lO,OOO for the destruction of weeds and it was felt that if county councils were to take over control this money would become available. The letter added that it was hoped the council would realise the seriousness of the position find do something to effect an improvement The committee set up to deal with the question of taking control of noxious weeds in the county reported that it did not feel justified in recommending the council to assume responsibility for the administration of the principal Act within the county, The administration could not be carried out satisfactorily without adding to the burdens of the ratepayers, who were already suffering under thenpresent obligations. The committee was of the opinion that to take over the administration of the Noxious Weeds Act would simply be relieving the various Government departments of their existing liabilities under the principal Act, especially in relation to Crown and Native lands.

A minority report was presented by Cr. Tosland, who considered it would be a forward step towards noxious weeds eradication if the council had control. He considered the officer employed by the council should be paid by the Department of Agriculture while so employed and that all mortgagees, Crown or otherwise, should be liable for any costs incurred in weed eradication. DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY. Councillor Willcocks said he would be sorry to see the matter dropped, but he admitted there were difficulties in the way of the council’s taking control of noxious weeds. He recently inspected some of the county roads and found much ragwort seeding, which meant that thousands of acres would soon be sown with this seed. He thought it advisable for the council to control weeds, but there was a difficulty in connection with Native lands. It would be useless to try to control weeds if Native and Crown lands were left to seed, and if it were not for that clause he would fight to have Egmont county to take control. .He considered an effort should be made to have that section of the Act altered, and then he would have no hesitation in asking the council to take control Councillor Gibson asked why the council should take up the responsibility that the original Act definitely placed on the Minister, and what chance the council had of obtaining the money if it did take control The chairman said he understood from the report of the committee that it recommended the council to take no action at present. If the £lOO,OOO were available to the county if it came in and if it could obtain its share from the Government, would it not be advisable for the county to do something? He thought they should know more about the Government grant and what proportion would be allotted to the county. It seemed that £lO,OOO would clear the back of Tarata and nothing else. The time was coming, said the chairman, when the council would have to take charge, but it would have to have some money. There would probably have to be a rate over the county. The limit of fid an acre would not go very far in clearing ragwort in the affected area. In areas not badly infested he would say they should take control immediately and keep the weed from spreading, but some parts of the county were so badly infested that it would take a good deal of money to clear the land. MINISTER’S RESPONSIBILITY. Councillor Gibson moved the adoption of the report, pointing out that the amending Bill transferred the Minister’s responsibility in regard to Native and Crown lands. Councillor Tosland averred that if control of weeds came under the county there would be information coming in if anyone was not doing his utmost io cope with the weeds on his property. Better results would be obtained by local control and he contended there should be no exemptions. Councillor Willcocks said he would move an amendment that the report be received. The council could continue to work for the removal of the disabilities of the Act. Councillor Holmes asked whether rating would be differential. Would a man who kept his land clean be compelled to pay for the other man? The chairman considered that if the matter were held in abeyance it would meet the case. Councillor Collins advocated doing the thing properly if they were going to do it at all. He objected to taking over control unless it put everyone on the same basis. The £lO,OOO offered by the Government would not clear the Egmont County, and if they struck a rate they could not collect sufficient money. It was only beating the air. Councillor Gibson withdrew his motion and it was agreed to hold the report in abeyance. On the motion of Cr. Tosland it was decided to write to the Minister of Agriculture asking should the council appoint an inspector to control the eradication of noxious weeds, what financial assistance would be available from the department to assist in paying the inspector's salary. The chairman said nearly all through in his district the setttlers had done good work in atttacking weeds after notice to clear was advertised in the Press. There were only a few settlers who had neglected to eradicate their weeds, and probably they would have to be prosecuted.