A "BILL" DEALING WITH NOXIOUS WEEDS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 2, 28 September 1920, Page 5

A "BILL" DEALING WITH NOXIOUS WEEDS

Sir,—On© would naturally suppose that| in closely related interests it would be < essential to successful administration that co-ordination and co-operation, should be the aim and end of control; But wo find that tho legislative, administrative and executive powers of such- obviously kindred interests as weeds, orops, meat, wool, buttci'i cheese, rabbits, stock, forests, and lands are grouped under separate controlling officials and Ministers, whoso objectives and purposes appear to bo somewhat at variance. The result of this system or tho lack of system if costly and chaotic, as may be seen from just one instance among the many which could bo cited. This case alone should prove that we have followed popular legislation to the verse of frenzy, and neglected the necessary administration to the point of idleness; that -we have too much talk and too.little work; too much machinery and too little fuel; too much expenditure and not much result. I am no politician, but may claim a life's experience in successful administration, and may safely say that this craze for popular politics is the curse of progressive work in the Public Service-and out of it. . Now for my single illustration. Some six years ago I wrote the "Noxious Weeds" Department to ask if they would please remove a few blackberry bushes from the forest reserve adjoining my property, as the birds were carrying the seed, the estimated cost being under £i. This was- not ncknowledced. About a year ago I wroto again insisting upon their eradication, pointing out that there were now 500 blackberry bushes in that reserve, that the estimated cost was S3O, ,md that they had spread into several private properties. To this I had a reply which Tather puzzled me, coming as it did, from the "Noxious Weeds" Department: This is not within the jurisdiction of our Department." After some consideration it was suggested that the lands Commissioner might be regarded as controller of these particular noxious weeds. Ho was accordingly apprized of tho facts and promptly replied, asking if a tender could be obtained for cutting them. A tender at .£32 was sent, and three months elapsed without result. Another letter elicited the information that the Noxious Weeds" Department (who previously had disclaimed all responsibility) had accepted a tender for i3O. Again a three months' delay and another proMo crop of luscious fruit; but, like the first tenderer, no reply had reached this Now came the time for an appeal to my good friend the Minister of Lands, to whom the above facts were detailed. Prom him eventually came this extraordinary letter :-"lty Departmental oucials report thnt there are a few small patches of Caltforman thistle on the river flat; but this thistle is more or less prevalent in all bush districts. I understand also that there are some blackberry bushes along the road, which it is tlie duty of the county council to eraNow, Californian thistle had nevor Wen mentioned by me, and was intro-j ducod as an official camouflage. Within a few weeks of this, the Noxious Weeds" Department accepted a tender, ot £15 to cut the blackberry. That being the fourth tender, the third acceptance, and the first partial performance!/Upon this being pointed out, the Minister wrote to say the location of the reserve must have been mistaken. There is only one other reserve in the whole district, and that is, so fav as blackberry is concerned, even worse than thi9 one, which from the first had been specifically named! , . ~ After six years' persistence, just tho fringe, for appearance sake, has been tickled with a sickle, and now reluctantly, I am compelled to ask yon publicly to help 6avo the adjoining settlers from the fate of those in, North Taranaki, Nelson, and the West Coast, and, incidentally, to prevent tho ruinous overgrowing of our beautiful totara forest reserve of 1200 acres, which is now, I beiieve, the finest in New Zealand. In much' briefer form I propose to give you the second reading of this "Bill.'"' which would provide an effective remedy for this gross waste of public money' and grosser neglect of the public and private interest in our fair grazing lands.-I am, etc., ICONOCLASt