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Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1927, Page 2

When- tho Noxious Weeds Bill was before Parliament Mr Seddon'pointed out that if the measure were applied to the farming lands on tho West Coast tlie expense in clearing would he wast-

eil largely because of the large areas of country such as railway reserves, river beds and other adjoining Crown areas, producing seed at every succeeding season. ’flic Minister gave the member for Westland an assurance that the Bill would not be applied to the Coast. Speaking on tlio general provisions of the measure, Air Hawken, the Minister of Agriculture said: “We say that on good land the noxious weeds can. and should, be cleared; that on second-class land the weeds can be kept in check; and that on third-class land it is doubtful whether the value of the land is worth the cost of eradicating the weeds.” Proceeding, the Minister said that the officers of the Agricultural Depatrnient had no intenteution of hounding any man to clear his land of weeds. Full warning was also given before firm action was taken against any man who neglected the warning to clear the weeds, and the object of the clause in the Bill, which provided for giving notice, through a newspaper that weeds must he cut. was simply to provide some means of giving a general preliminary warning. Mr Hawken also said that he was not going to lie so foolish as to promise tbaL he would take steps to clear the weeds from all Government and. irrespective of its value. A promise of that 11a ture would involve clearing all the river beds of weeds, a task beyond any man. Same of the members of the House continued to voice their opposition, contending that the enforcement of the measure would press unduly on the farmers. This led the Prime Minister to suggest holding over the clauses "liicli affect tlio farmers in abeyance pending a discussion of the difficulties with the Minister of Agriculture. It

was in this connection Mr fseddon was able to secure the promise from the Minister referred to above, namely Hint the provisions of Ibe bill would not be applied to the Coast.