AUCTION SALES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 17, 15 October 1919, Page 10

AUCTION SALES

■."..-.■"'. ..'.'poejphoominq fixtures ":."."- ':.':.';...-' to-day. Waiwakaiho, 10.30 e.m.-Stock sale (New- '. „ ton- King). Manakau, 1 p.m.—Sate of stock and rni- '"* plements'- (Abraham and Williamu). Woburn llb&d, Lowor Hutt, 1 p.m.-Furni- ' turo sale (H. B. Leighton). Assembly Hall, Hastingß, -3 p.m.-Property . sale (J. A. Miller). - TO-MORKOY7. Eangitikei Street, ralmerstou .North,. 11 .'. a.m.—Pjg sale (JL Palmer and Co.) Main Eoad, I'd Horo, 12.30 p.m.-Salo of •Btock and implements iN.Z. Loan Co.). TJppex.Hutll'lards, 1 p.m.-Stook-salo .'.Dal- : gety- and Co. and JN'.Z. Loan Co.). 19S"'Laiiibton Quay, Wellin^toii-Suburban property Bale (Harcourt and Oo.). Dannevlrko' Yards—Hull fair. , ...... ...... pmcAY. Beac'tf Eocid,' Te Horo, 12.30 p.m.-Salo of ■'■ Btock- and implements (N. 2. Loan Co.). Feilding Yards—Cattlo -fair (Associated ■Auctioneers). ;•' NOXIOUS WEEDS . -WORKING OF THE ACT. . Noxious weeds are discussed in the annual report of tho Agricultural Department. "The difficulties attending tho administration of tho Noxious Weed? Act do riot decrease," says the report, "arid it is becoming moro and niore apparent that -the Act cannot be tered in its present form with an equal degree of severity in every, district or against every individual. As it stands, much has to be left to the discretion of the inspector, but this discretion is apt to' bo abused. 'In some districts so much discretion has been used that weeds Beem to havo got hopelessly out of control, simply because those administering the Act have not carried out their duties in a .-judicious manner even tempered with a certain amount of discretion. Inspectors are somewhat handicapped by the wording of the present Act, in that certain powers were taken from them when the words 'to tho satisfaction of the - inspector'' were deleted. These.should again ho inserted.' The decision is left to a Magistrate, but in most cases he is not in a position to ijudgo except by weight of evidence, and. there are always.other and extenuating circumstances of which he is not aware, arid'which an inspector does not care to ventilate.

"The Noxious Weeds Act is an unpopular. one : on account of tho opinion. v that coercion is implied, and may_ be harshly. used bv an inspeotor, but this seldom or never happens. Still, the Act was framed for the.public-good, and, although opponents may say otherwise, it has justified its. place on the statutes,'and snonld remain there. If beneficial amendments can be made, by all means this should bo dono; but otherwise the Act, even in its. present form, can be adminis--tered in such a manner asto show good lesnlts. Shortage of labour has for Borne seasons past doubtless been tho cause of a partial standstill in the usefulness of the Act. ' Inspectors generally have been alive to this, and jle consequent difficulties under which landowners have been placed, and have not strictly pressed its requirements. It has:often been suggested that the administration.of tho Act should be placed in the'hands of local bodies, but it is very questionable if such is feasible or practicable. Members of these bodies are often so situated that it would probably press hardly on themselves, and they would' therefore be disinclined to carry out'tho provisions of the Act against .themselves. It is found that in cities, boroughs, and townships there is great trouble in having weeds attended to, and these ore a constant: menace to adjoining properties and districts. All classes of weeds are found growing in them,and they are equally a.source,of contamination as aro country districts.

"Some-town and borough authorities have- appointed their own inspectors. Theso. officers .stand'in a different position'to" a' Departmental inspector. They are .confronted by many conflicting interests, which does not tend to efficient work. Instances are known where the Departmental inspector, who lias still the supervision of tho work, has i had to approach these 'authorities and. ask that their inspector show more zeal and activity. :

''From every point of view it will probably be found that the Act can be more judiciously handled, and with less fear of "outside iiiterferencu and prejudice, by a Government officer than by anv other method. Lately a suggestion was put forward by a, local body, which appeared to be a very pood one, providing for tho work boing. carried out bylocal committees. It seemed very workable, but there are flaws to be found in., it;-. _ Weeds are not'easily confined. There aro so many means of distribution; * Babbits may be confined by wireaelting. but not so weeds. This Act must- b* 'a; penal one, leaving it to the administration to say -whether it should be«made strictly so or not. There are Inany owners who for their owh sake and credit will".keep their lands clear, and there are others who will noto'o so except tinder stress. Tho former are detrimentally' affected. A law has to ba fciade to protect the latter against themselves. . The ■ intentions and requirements of the Act are well knojvn to all landowners, except that they may not' be aware of what weeds are declared in their particular districts. The Act has been the subject of such endless controversy that no ownor can plead ipenorance. The nature of w«d 'desired to be cleared is generally endorsed on tho "TJeminder Notico" by tho - inspector. 'All are expected to know the law. This Js a point -emphasised by Magistrates from tho bench. It'bas been suggested that the country might bo divided into belts and dealt with according to the requirements in each—in ono belt the Act to be strictly enforced, in a second a certain amount to be done, and in a third little to be insisted on. This ■would be unworkable, It would not bo advisable to even have a purely Departmental arrangement of classifying. Owners and' occupiers would not agree to this.

"Legislation is required to deal in some way with absentee • properties, which are found in every inspectorate and generally becomo overgrown with weeds that are nevor attended" to, and are consequently a source of annoyance to adjoining'owners and to inspectors. In some instances notices have been posted on the proDerties, and after q,' time the weeds cleared under the Act by the inspector, but tho difficulty is in recovering the cost, even if the owner might be found. The Act also requires amending to provide for the control of weeds fin foreshores and river margins—that is. ■where there aro strips of land between a foreshore and a public road, or between a river or er°ek and a public road. _ Harbour boards and • country councils or road: boards nearly always disclaim liability in such cases. "Noxious weeds on Crown lands are stilj a cause of great annoyance and irritation to the public, and the position in this matter demands attention. Local bodies sometimes mako an apparent mistake in declaring tho wliolo of the third schedule. It becomes unworkable. They should, therefore, have tho power to withdraw certain ve"ds from the operation of such schedule when considered advisable."