NOXIOUS WEEDS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1935, Page 3

NOXIOUS WEEDS

CONTROL BY LOCAL BODIES. DISCUSSION AT INGLEWOOD. Whether the council should take oyer the administration of the Noxious Weeds Act formed the subject of considerable discussion at the meeting of the Ingle-, wood County Council yesterday., The taking of control was advocated by the chairman, Mr. A. Corkin, who agreed, however, that the council could not afford to undertake any heavy, expenditure in connection with the matter. Members generally appreciated the necessity for controlling weeds, but the opinion was expressed that it was the responsibility of the Government. Finally. it .was decided to defer consideration until next meeting, and meanwhile the council would meet an official of the Agricultural Department and discuss the establishment of camps to deal with weeds. During the discussion it was stated by the chairman that the position regarding noxious weeds in the Inglewood county was now much improved. While he did not advocate the council incurring any great expenditure in the matter at present, he considered that the fact that the council had taken control of the administration of the Act Would have a moral effect that would be very beneficial, said the chairman, in moving that the council accept control of the Noxious Weeds Act He held that coping with weeds on his property cost him more than double the amount he paid in’ rates. No one liked to face an additional rate, but he knew of cases in other counties where farmers willingly paid a small rate to ensure that weeds did not spread on to their own farms. Already the noxious weeds problem had been shelved too long, as it could have been handled at much less cost if tackled years ago. The Government was giving a rebate of Id in the £1 on sodium chlorate, and he thought the council might do something similar with safe-, guards to prevent the cost being too heavy. Cr. Gibson seconded the motion pro forma.

Tire clerk submitted-a resume of the previsions of the new Act and the powers of local bodies, and a reply to the chairman said that the council could ask the Minister for a grant to deal with unoccupied Crown lands and unindividual Crown lands which were causing trouble, A councillor expressed the opinion that the council could subsidise the purchase of sodium chlorate in cases' where the weed was serious and the owners were not in a position to . buy the material. Cr. Willans: It would be liable to be resold. < .

Cr. Stachurski said that 'if sodium chlorate were given to all a special rate would be needed. He was opposed to a rate of even one eighth of a penny, for it was not right that the man who worked to keep their weeds in. check should have to assist those who “shirked”: A number of ratepayers had told him that they agreed with his views. The chairman said he would not consider a rate, but he thought the council might safely allocate a small percentage of its general rate to .supply sodium chlorate to farmers not in a position to purchase it He did not think the- council should support an inspector. They should report any bad cases noted. Cr. Jones said he would not support the council taking control. If they did so they would have it for all time. Cr. Stachurski said that in reporting cases councillors would make enemies. “I would not hesitate to report two or three dirty places in my district, and would inform tire owners that I was doing so,” said the chairman. Cr. Gibson considered that even if the council subsidised sodium chlorate there were some farmers on badly infested properties who could not afford to purchase it, and if it were given free they could not afford labour to apply it Moreover, it was difficult to check weeds if the neighbouring council did not take action. The chairman said he had found that the best and most economical method was to mix the sodium chlorate with lime at the rate of one hundredweight to three-quarters of a ton. Cr. Grigg asked what would be the position if the council supplied sodium chlorate and the farmer did not use it. He instanced one case where the Government had supplied sodium and the farmer had left it In the shed. The chairman pointed out that if necessary certain areas could be ratedMoreover, it was now possible to prosecute more frequently than at the. six months’ interval under the previous Act. He recognised that prosecutions were not effected, but he pointed out that prices of produce were now on the up-grade, so that as farmers could make more out of farming he did not think the council would have much trouble. The Government, too, was making efforts t 0... clear Crown lands,

Cr. Willans: That is on paper. The chairman said that the posidon in the Inglewood county had treatiy improved in the past year or tvoi In the Tarata district there were only two or three bare places, and some of those were being taken in hand as m-w settlers now had the land at a price that .would give them a chance. 1 Cr. Grieve considered something should be done, though the council was after all only taking over the job that the Government should have tackled. After further discussion an amendment was carried deferring consideration until next meeting, and in the meantime councillors will meet Mr. F. W. Sutton, chief inspector for the Wellington district of the stock division, and discuSs the question of establishing unemployment relief camps for dealing with weed;,.