NOXIOUS WEEDS

Taranaki Daily News, 5 March 1935, Page 2

NOXIOUS WEEDS

LOCAL BODY SUPERVISION.

TARANAKI COUNTY DISCUSSION.

The control of noxious weeds was again briefly discussed by the Taranaki County Council yesterday, when it was intimated that the council would probably consider taking over control next eeason, as provided'in the amending Act. The secretary of the North Taranaki executive of the Farmers’ Union, Mr. D. Le Cren Morgan, forwarded a resolution passed at the last meeting of the executive, urging the necessity of county councils considering taking over the control of weeds throughout their districts in the interests of the settlers. The letter said that though local bodies taking over control did not bring in Crown and Native Lands, the department had set aside the sum of £lO,OOO for the destruction of noxious weeds, and it was felt that money would be available if county councils were to assume control. Many people, including some members of county councils, were inclined to ignore the provisions of the amendments, because power had not been given county councils to deal with Crown and Native lands on the same basis as private settlers, but if that were to be pie decision of county councils, they would be in a state of status quo, with the result that they would have made no progress in dealing with such a vital question. The chairman said that the £lO,OOO would be hard to locate.

Cr. Hall understood that the £lO,OOO had been provided to subsidise local bodies in the purchase of eodium chlorate, but local bodies had not taken full advantage of that.

The chairman said that towards the close of the season the majority of farmers had taken steps to control their weeds. No doubt that was due to the publicity that had been given the matter during the discussions. He felt that if the. council had the necessary control the position regarding noxious weeds would show an improvement. The council had decided ‘it was too late to take action this season, but he felt that before next season they should take steps to assume control.