CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 846, 18 June 1910, Page 10

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES.

. « NOXIOUS WEEDS. SPARKS FROM RAILWAY ENGINES (By Telegraph.-Spccial Correspondent.) Auckland, Juno 17. At tho conference of local bodies in Manukau county, the chairman (Mr. Allen), in, moving that the Government bo asked to take- vigorous measures for destroying noxious weeds on railway lines, and on public roads, said ho know, of several miles where noxious weeds were- going through tho fences from tho Government railway lino on' to land which tho farmer had been at great expense to keep clear. Tho blackberry mado I.oft. to 20ft. of growth per annum. The task of keeping 'tlio lino clear.- of noxious weeds w'as, no doubt, a serious one, but tlio Government was simply playing with the matter. On the lung ; stroteh of line between Auckland and Mercer, there were only one' or two men engaged clearing the line. The speaker suggested tho a-t----tachment of a spraying machino to railway engines. Mr. Allen also complained that nothing had been heard of tho Noxious Weeds Act ' lately, and tho spread of weeds in the province was alarming. Tho motion was carried. Mr. Morgan asked the conference to reaffirm the principle Mint th«'. Governmejrt should pay for damage caused by fires started by sparks from railway engines. In reply to a question, Mr. Massey' said that if the Crown Suits Act were repealed, settlers would bo able to sue for such damage, fie was strongly in favour of having the Act amended to allow prosecutions to he brought against Government Departments for damago caused by their operations. Mr. Allen said that- every year many trees wero destroyed by fires started by railway engines. He had also Iftiowu oat crops and evon .houses to have beendestroyed. It was finally resolved that the Crown Suits Act bo amended so as to.give compensation for fires caused by railway ongines.