Weed Control Discussed

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31089, 18 June 1966, Page 24

Weed Control Discussed

(HZ. Press Association > DUNEDIN, June 16. Hydatid regulations and noxious weed control were the two main subjects discussed at the New Zealand Counties Associations’ conference, which ended in Dunedin today. In an effort to eradicate noxious weeds the conference decided to ask the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) to instruct his department to enforce regulations which make it an offence to sell hay, the shed hay, or other farm produce containing nodding thistle. An attempt will also be made to have alligator weed placed on the first schedule of noxious weeds, and the Department of Agriculture will be urged to investigate all possible means of eradication of barley grass. A remit asking for an investigation of the possibility of combining the Noxious Weeds Destruction Council and the Agricultural Animal Pests Destruction Council was lost. Dog Dosing

A remit described by one delegate to be “the most outstanding remit on hydatids" sought authority to enable any hydatids authority to charge the owner of an infected dog with the full cost of

redosing the dog. The remit was carried unanimously. The National Hydatids Council will be asked to appoint additional field officers to meet cases of emergency so that dog dosing is not interrupted. Other remits to amend the Hydatids Act were connected with fees. The Waihemo County Council moved a motion to remove the present restriction of £5 total hydatid fees on owners of more than five dogs and also the restriction of 10s a dog on owners of more than 10 dogs. All these remits were passed. A permanent identification of dogs by tattooed numbers on their ears was favoured by conference.

The power to have this carried out will be sought The proposer of the motion, Opotiki County, said the identification was not really to help with the eradication of hydatids, but to control sheep worrying by dogs at large. The association will continue to seek legislation against the leaving of litter in public places and will suggest a nation-wide educational programme be held in schools. Tourist Projects A remit seeking the establishment of a tourist project advisory board to consider applications from local authorities for assistance in the development of tourist projects was passed. The remit suggested the board should consist of members of the tourist, works, health and finance depart-

ments and should make recommendations to Government on its findings. The conference rejected a remit calling lor an amendment to traffic regulations to provide that one rule should apply to right turns made on

roads inside and outside 30 m.p.h. speed limit areas, but the remit was lost by only one vote on a show of hands—--4647. Another remit passed called for a relaxation of import restrictions for utility ve-