SPREAD OF NOXIOUS WEEDS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 106, 21 May 1937, Page 4

SPREAD OF NOXIOUS WEEDS

■■ ■ » m Minister Agrees on Need oi Eradication Pia' NATIONAL CAMPAIGN The menace created by the alarming increase in the spread of noxious weeds is recognised by the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, who at . Napier yesterday said that an effectxve means of elimination of the pests necessitated the putting into operatiou of a national scheme, The Minister rogaTded noxious weeds as- oue of tne three most serious problems confrQUting the farming community of New Zealand. Opportunity was yesterday taken by Mr. M, Sk Chambers, of the. Hawke'* Bay County Council, to inquire of the Minister whether a national scheme could be instituted for the elimination of noxious weeds. The council had been attempting to deal with the posi-. tion, he said, but one body on its own could not achieve much. The educating of the public in the types of weeds and the means of destroying them wai essential. Mr. Chambers expressed the hope that the Minister would use his iafluence in instituting a national campaign. The question of noxious weeds was to-day of the greatest importance. A few years ago a little work would have eliminated weeds that were to-day a menace and would cost large sqms to destroy. Such weeds as Tagwort and variegated thistle, which were scarc© a few years ago, were to-day most - plentiful. The rapid spread had involred a task "that was far too heavy for any local body to undertake on it» own, The Minister, in reply, said that he appreeiated the action of Mr. Chambers in bringing this matter forward. The three greatest problems confronting the farming . community . wero noxious weeds, disease of stoek and river erosion. "This is a question that has got to be "faced up to broadly, and the only, way of "dealing with it is by a national system of control," said the Minister, "The way in which ragwort is allowed to spread is really alarming. Just recently I saw ragwort in full bloom in a farmer 's garden," The Minister added that the question was one for the Minister of Lands and that he would be glad to cohfer with him on it and accord the representations his fnllest support. He also made reference to the national survey that was being made so that the quality of the'soil and what it would produce could. be ascertained. This, he said, was all part of the new national local body government. It was a new phase which did not belpng to the old system, and it was essential that it should be dealt with in the light" of modern experience.