The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1916. REGLSTRATION OF "ORCHARDS.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1630, 28 October 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1916. REGLSTRATION OF "ORCHARDS.”

EVERY occupier of land growing more than one fruit tree is liable to a line of i‘2o if said orchard is not registered. So far as registralion in Co.xton is concerned, no forms have been sent hy (he Agricultural Department for registration purposes, and no one seems lo know more than that the rigistration forms, after being filled in, have to he sent to the Department at. Wellington, and al the sender’s own wosi. As a cunlemporary rightly points out, it is customary, expedient and equitable that returns required hy tin* (lovernmeiil should he franked through tin* mails, hut in litis instance (here is no definite and explicit instruction either as to posting to Wellington or as to the return being curried unstamped. It is, of course l , in he assumed that obligatory (lovernntenl returns collected for official proposes require no prepaid postage, hut why is this not slated.* Does the Department mean to secure tin; |Kislage charge where it can while accepting unstamped envelopes containing the return from (host 1 familiar with the. usual practice? The entire business is so chaotic and irregular as to suggest ihiti the .Department is exceedingly doubtful of its power to enforce any such absttred definition of “orchard.’’ The threat to penalise the unregistered owner of a single fruit tree to the extent of £2O cannot he clearly substantiated by iiny Act of Parliament. It may lie explained as a most reprehensible device lo secure the names of all who sell fruit, and thus become liable to the orchard-tax, but no Department can be Justified in using the ant horny of the state for an indirect purpose to the inconvenience and irritation of the public, or in threatening pains and penalties mil distinctly provided by the law. The Agricultural Department a! Palmerston have forms on hand, Iml. it is asking too much of local people to expect them to fossick round in this connection. There appears to have been a good deal of bungling on the part of (he Agricultural Department in connection with the matter.

[Since the above was it: print, (be local postmaster informs ns (hat he Juts received a few forms, which may he obtained on application.]