NOXIOUS WEEDS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144051, 22 March 1913, Page 2

NOXIOUS WEEDS.

There are many property-builders in this district wiiu recognise mat the noxious weeds pest is a thing tnat must be lougiit vigorously; lor their own sake.s and the sake ol their neighbours tuey endeavour, without any suggestion noin inspeciois, to .’.cep Uimr lands clean, hut there are, uiuorUm-

ateiy, others who are ei.n.auly careless in uus roped, and whose carelessness does much to nuuily ttie good work m me* careiul ones, i ui.-. may be seen by uiiuiiu; who cukes the trouble to look. In many parts there are holdings on which me noxious weeds llouri.sh as only such weeds can iiourisii, and in seeding time the adjoining lands that have, at much cost and trouble, been kept clean are endangered, Persons who are thus careless should be severely dealt with. Under the heading “Worse than Babbits/’ a New South Wales paper just to hand states-“At length tho noxious weeds question, which for some years lias been a most important matter affecting landowners on both aides of the Murray, is attracting the earnest attention of tho public bodies concerned, and tlie various shires on both sides of the river are taking action to compel landowners to extirpate tho various weed pests. During the last throe or four years weeds spread rapidly over the several shires on both sides of the Murray until it was recognised that drastic action must bo taken by tlie shires collectively, otherwise the laud would seriously suffer in- value.” What is true with regard to New South Wales is equally true with regard to New Zealand, and everything possible should be done to keep the pest down. The authorities have long syiee recognised tho importance of this matter, and good work has undoubtedly been clone: hut very much more remains to do. In this connection it is somewhat of an anomaly that many local authorities have been, and arc, remiss; instead of sotting a good example lands under their control are in a shocking condition, and a source of infection for contiguous lands. Tho inspectors may do their best—we have no evidence to the contrary—hid: the fact remains that noxious weeds flourish to an extent that is alarming. The careful person is often painfully cognisant of this, but ho does not care to, and it is really no part of his duty, to become informer; therefore he suffers his hardship in silence.