NOXIOUS WEEDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1937, Page 22

NOXIOUS WEEDS

COST TO DOMINION

AN ARRESTING STATEMENT

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

PALMERSTON N., This Day.

The opinion that the noxious weed problem might well rank in importance with the Dominion's unemployment question was voiced by Mr. R. Seivers, Makara-Hutt provincial executive, when speaking at the Farmers' Union conference in Dannevirke yesterday.

"There is no doubt that this is a,very serious matter for New Zealand as a whole and not just for,the farming community," stated Mr. Seivers. "Ragwort, variegated thistle, and many ; lesser pests are levying a huge toll on' the production of this country, and I doubt whether the extent, to which Our production is affected is realised by the country as 'k : . whole. I, should imagine that the""- -.■' losses through noxious weeds would;, amount to at least 1 per cent, of our \total production, or well over £50&,600. In all probability if the amount could be computed it would be a great deal more. In the case of the Hawke's Bay: earthquake I well remember the' tremendous efforts made by the: .people to repair the damage, and I would suggest that the losses through ''noxious weeds over a five years' period will not be very much short of the. loss created by that terrible catastrophe.,

"Noxious weeds must be regarded as a national problem and must be dealt with from-the point of v}ew of protecting the assets and income, of the1 nation. I put forward the suggestion that the noxious weeds problem and our unemployed problem might well be considered side by side;. , It, may be that if this is done we /shall, find at least a temporary solution .common to both of them." ,• . '■'■:. :■