Noxious Weeds.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 68, 7 February 1908, Page 3

Noxious Weeds.

TO THE EDITOR.

you inform me, Mr Editor, va ■is responsible for the destruction Jff Noxious Weeds on Crown Lands is a photograph taken a few days ago of a heavy crop of ragwort in full bloom on the Karu Improved Farm Settlement. We, Sir, have the misfortune to hold the adjacent country under lease from the Natives, and it is heartbreaking to us, after spending time, money and care in cleansing our property of the evil, to daily witness a heavy crop in full bloom just through the fence ready, ere long, to cast its millions of seeds to the winds, and thereby poison the whole country side. This is a matter of grave concern to the settlers, as noxious weeds are spreading rapidly, and will, if vSx checked, shortly prove a menace to the whole district. It seems criminal to my mind that the Government should be providing nurseries for that which both Pakeha and Maori are doing their utmost to eradicate. Before steps were taken last year to cut the blooms, the Crown Lands Ranger, ihe Commissioner of Crown Lands and Stock and Noxious Weeds Inspector had each to be written and wired to, by which time the seed had partly matured, the damage done, and the work rendered useless. The crop this year is much heavier, averaging three feet in height and covering an area of several acres in one place. Blackberry, sweet briar, and Canadian thistle are each getting a hold in various parts of the district. These are all Noxious \Y eeds under the Act which seems to be a "' dead letter "in the King Country. Why, Mr Editor, is the Act not enforced ? Has it proved itself unworkable ? If a law is to be of any use it must in the first place be a good law ; it must be workable; it must have the respect of the community, and it must be rigidly enforced. If the " Noxious Weeds Act" is a bad law; if it is unworkable, and is more honoured in the breach than the observance, then it is demoralising, and should be removed from the Statute Book.—l am, etc., G. ELLIOTT. "Mapiu," 3.2/08.

[We are pleased to learn that since the receipt of the above letter the weeds referred to have been cleared by order of the Noxious Weeds Inspector.—Ed. K.C.C.]