NOXIOUS WEEDS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 223, 8 January 1910, Page 2

NOXIOUS WEEDS.

ONE of the great questions in all rural communities is that .of keeping the district free from noxious weeds and pests which are so inimical to the success of the farmer in every branch of his calling. This fact has been recojmised broadly by the authorities who haye taken the usual steps in the appointing of officers to inspect the various districts, and supervise the eradication of the various pests. In the King (Country unfortunately tpe taihoa policy has rested Jike a blight on the land, and the large ijreas of waste country have been open to receive and act. as breeding grounds for all sorts -of undatable weeds. The increawTi>f secernent has certainly ' V -• -

done much to check the spread of obnoxious pests, but in certain localities ] the propagation of the weeds goes steadily on. Ragwort is spreading rapidly over all the unoccupied Native lands, and even the holdings of settlers are not being kept as free as they might be. This is not as it should be and unless actfye steps are taken to eradicate the weeds the prosperity of the whole district will be affected. The obvious remedy is, of course, the prompt settlement of all unoccupied lands and the rigorous enforcement of the Act. Unfortunately, the settling of the land is interwoven with the Native question and may be shelved indefinitely, while the rigorous enforcing of the Act upon settlers who are doing their best to keep their lands clear while adjoining Native areas are acting as breeding grounds appears farcical. The position is a shining example of what can be achieved by a Government that fails to recognise the importance of the Native question or the far-reaching effects of the "Taihoa" policy. However, accepting matters as they are, there is every reason why our settlers should take every precaution to keep their holdings clear, and no effort should be spared by them ta such a desirable end.