BLACKBERRY PEST

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 55, 29 November 1926, Page 3

BLACKBERRY PEST

EXPENSIVE TO CONTROL OBJECTION TO SETTING UP, BOARDS The activities of the Government in seeking a practical method of destroying the blackberry and the difficulties in setting up blackberry boards similar to rabbit boards are mentioned in the reply teceived by the Farmers’ Union to a remit that was forwarded to the xMinister of Agriculture (Hon. O. J. Hawken) in connection with the blackberry pest: “With reference to the remit passed at the annua! conference of your union asking the Government to enact legislation to enable blackberry boards (o be constituted on the same lines as rabbit boards." states the Minister, “I have to advise you that this matter has been . receiving consideration for some time past. It is true that the 'board’ system has been found definitely useful in connection with the destruction of rabbits, but it must be bore in mind that the two pests—rabbits and noxious, weeds—present entirely different problems in the matter of control Compared with the cost of dealing effectively- with the blackberry pest the annual cost of destruction of rabbits is relatively small, and the proposed boards would need to be vested with extremely heavy rating powers if they were to be enabled to do any more than the Department is now doing in the matter of weed control. The maximum rate that can be levied by rabbit boards is Is. per acre, but-w-bile many settlers are prepared (o pay this amount in order to secure protection from rabbits it is doubtful whether the same settlers would be prepared to sign a petition for the formation of a blackberry board empowered to levy much heavier rates. "I realise that noxious weed boards would serve to prevent the spread of noxious weeds in districts which are still comparatively clean, but it is the control of the weeds pest in unclean districts which presents the greatest problem to the Government. For some timo past my Department has been endeavouring to evolve some satisfactory means of control, and to this end an officer has been specially engaged in investigating the blackberry problem. A great deal of useful data has been secured. but until some practical and economical method of control has been discovered I am of opinion that the passing of legislation would not lead to the establishment of boards in those districts where control is difficult and expensive. However. I am quite prepared to give careful consideration to any definite proposals which may bn placed before me for the better control, of noxious weeds, either by boards or other means.”