FINE FOR NOXIOUS WEED OFFENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, 11 May 1948, Page 6

FINE FOR NOXIOUS WEED OFFENCE

A tine of xo ana costs, with translation fee of ss, was the penalty imposed on John Paki by Mr. J. H. Salmon, SM, in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of failing to clear variegated thistle from his land in the Rangitikei County. The noxious weeds inspector, Mr. John Robinson, said that defendant was fined £5 in December, when an eighth of an acre of his 15-acre farm was infested. He was told to clear the weed off, but had not done so. At this stage, defendant interrupted, saying that he did not own the land in question. “That does not matter,” said Mr. Salmon. "You occupy the land and you are liable for it. You were convicted before for it.” Mr. H. Marumaru interjected that he appeared for the Native Department, for which defendant had oeen working for the last five years as a carpenter. Mr. Marumaru said that Paki did not occupy the land, which was worked by another man. Mr. Robinson said that the names of defendant and another man called Paki had been supplied to him by the Native Department as owners of the land. Mr. Marumaru admitted that defendant was the owner of the land. "Well, an owner is liable as much as an occupier," the magistrate said. To Mr. Robinson: You are only charging one of the owners?" Mr. Robinson: The other one is dead. Mr. Salmon said that the fine he imposed was the minimum laid down in the regulations.