'GOATSRUE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2170, 31 August 1920, Page 3

'GOATSRUE.

Cor some considerable time (lie local Chamber of Commerce has been endeavouring to get Ihe Mannwatu County. Council to goalsrue a noxious weed in that county, but without success. The Woodville, Horowhenua and Kairanga County Councils having already declared goalsrue a noxious weed in the areas under their jurisdiction, hut the iManawalu County Council still declines to follow suit. At,the last meeting of the (Jitanther of Commerce, when (his matter was discussed, it wtis decided to make application lo the Government to amend the .Noxious Weeds Act to provide that where any local body refuses to declare any weed a noxious weed under the Noxious Weeds Act, and where it can he proved that sueh weed is a menace to the land in that locality, then the declaration of the weed under the Act shall be made by Order-in-Couneil. At last night’s meeting of the Chamber of Commerce the following reply to the Chamber’s representations was received from the Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister for Agriculture, through Mr E. Newman, M.P.: —

“Furthcr lo my let-tor of Kith instant in regard to the suggestion of the Eoxlon Chamber of Commerce, that there should he power to compel the declaration of certain plants to be noxious weeds in the district of a local authority which refuses to do so, I beg to inform you (hat this would defeat the whole scheme of controf laid down in Hie Noxious Weeds Act. Tins Act provides that certain plants which are specially dangerous shall he noxious weeds throughout the Dominion, with a consequent liability on everybody to clear them. In regard, however, to the great majority of weeds, it is left to each local governing district to decide whether any of the weeds arc sufficiently dangerous in its district to warrant declaring it noxious. Il is for the ratepayers of the district to decide the mutter, and if a majority are convinced as to the necessity for declaring a plant a noxious weed there exists the conslitulional method for enforcing their wishes. As a matter ol laet, the tendency in connection with the control and irrigation of noxious weeds is rather in the direction of extending local control. An amendingl Bill is in preparalion, Avlnch I hope to get circulated shortly, and if this becomes law il should, I think, have the elf cel of making I he administration of noxious weeds legislation more workable than at present. As regards Goalsrue, I would point out llml the Department has taken very active steps m connection with il. particularly in ensuring Dial all plants growing on the Itawkcs Bay side of the ManaAvalu Gorge were effectively cut ami prevented from seeding, thus at au> rate stopping the further perpetuation of the weed on laud hemw the Gorge through seeds being, carried down by the river when hi Hood. In addition to this the Department is collecting’data as to Avlielher cerium methods of slocking will control the .spread of the plant. In the circumstances I am therefore of opinion (hat an amendment of the Act in the direction mentioned by the Eoxlon Chamber of Commerce is not advisable, though, as already slated, fairly comprehensive amendments are in preparation.” It was decided lo approach the De|tfcrtment, asking that goalsrue ho placed on the list ol plants that are declared as noxious weeds throughout the Dominion.