THE CALIFORIAN THISTLE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1852, 28 May 1888, Page 3

THE CALIFORIAN THISTLE

i I Mr T. McKenzie, the new member : j for Clutha, deserves the thanks of the ■ farmers for the intelligence with which 1 he has addressed himself to the task of legislating with a view to the prevention , of the spreading m this colony of the dreaded Californian thistle, which, m California, Canada, and Tasmania, has wrought such serious mischief, lie has brought forward conclusive evidence of the fact of its presence already m many parts of the colony, and showed that to allow it to make headway, would be nothing short of disastrous. The cost of eradicating the weed thoroughly was, he stated, about an acre, or more, very often, than the value of the land itself, and this, of course, would mean ruin to those who permit the weed to get thoroughly established. Mr McKenzie very properly pointed out that lit was absolutely necessary to make it obligatory upon all land owners, from the Crown downwards, to take measures for its eradication, as,' unless all were compelled to do so, those* who were guilty of neglect would render nugatory the efforts of their neighbors. Hence the necessity of the strict legislative provision proposed m his Bill. This, which is now before us, is, we see, largely taken the Tasmanian Act, and requires all owners, private arid public, effectually to cut down the plant before blooming, the Minister of Lands being responsible as to Crown lands, and all local authorities as to all roads and lands within their jurisdiction. The Chief Inspector or sheep is to be the Chief Inspector under the Act, and to him are to be furnished, on or before the ist November m each year, returns of the area infected .with thistles on the land of every occupier on whose holding the pest exists. Pdwer is given to any Inspector ..under the Act to enter upon any lands for the purpose of ascertaining whether, thistles are growing thereupon. Notice is to be served by the Inspector upon the occupier who must, within 14 days of th 6 receipt thereof, cut down all thistles growing upon the lands, and must completely eradicate them within a specified time. Where the area infected does not exceed half an acre, the ti/ne allowed is not to exceed two years ; where it exceeds this, and does not exceed three acres, three years ; and where it exceeds three acres five .years .may be allowed, tathe occupier, butjthe latter is required to be continuous m his efforts, under pain of a fine ranging from =£5 to ;£ioo. Failing the notice being complied with, the Inspector may enter upon the land and destroy the thistles, and may recover the cost from the occupier. When the owner or occupier of land is unknown, the work may be done and charged against the property. The landlord and tenant are jointly liable for the cost of eradicating thistles and either may recover his proportion from the other by suit m the nearest R.M. Court. All penalties under the Act are to be paid m to thg Consolidated Fund. Judging from a cursory perusal of the Bill it seems to be satisfactory and complete, and should be effectual m preventing the scourge against which it is directed from estabi lishing itself m the colony.