NOXIOUS WEEDS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21416, 7 March 1935, Page 9

NOXIOUS WEEDS

♦ DEPARTMENT'S METHODS CRITICISED Complaining of the methods adopted in the control of noxious weeds, a letter from Mr W. Macintosh Murray (.Timaru) caused members to smile as it was being read at the meeting of the Levels County* Council yesterday. The letter expressed appreciation of the action of the council at its previous meeting when it had before it a copy of a request by the writer to the Department of Agriculture asking that steps be taken to eradicate hemlock near Timaru. The department's reply was that hemlock did not come within its scope, as the weed h»d not been declared noxious by the council. The council then decided to take the necessary steps to have the hemlock- declared noxious. "To speak of eradication now," ran the letter, "is like reading a pardon to a man already dangling on a rope—it is too late to be of much use." After expressing his opinion of "red tape" methods adopted by those in authority, the writer went on to state: "Unfortunately, the seeding season is over, and hemlock hereabouts has not been similarly hedged about by .red tape. The small birds have been hungry, like others in this vaunted land of plenty, and hemlock will doubtless provide proof that the shallow soil of South Canterbury is yet capable of growing something, and growing it prolificacy, irrespective of regulation, either prohibitive or dcI structive. "However, the course of action upon which the Levels County Council has embarked is doubtless as speedy asthe law of the land allows. As such,, it is appreciated, for it is at any rate akin to that of the department, which'has decided to exterminate the white butterfly, but not till there are enough butterflies to keep the parasites busy. No doubt, in due course, inspectors, too, will be kept busy waging war. on weeds in South Canterbury." The letter was received.