HAWTHORN HEDGES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3822, 24 July 1928, Page 2

HAWTHORN HEDGES.

PLEA FOR CONSIDERATION. Speaking on the Orchard and Gardenr’ Pest Act in the House of Representatives on Friday night, Mr. J. Linklater, member for Manawatu said, “While I have to congratulate the Minister on the consolidation bill before us, I want to ask him to administer the Act with due consideration for the dairy farmers who have hedges round their farms. The Department of Agriculture has declared an area of five square miles in the Manawatu district within which hawthorn is to be eradicated. In that district we have farmers who depend on these hedges for their fencing and if they remove them, they then lose the only shelter the stock have in winter. I hope, therefore, that the Minister will see his way to have the Act leniently administered. While I recognise the importance of the orchards as far as production of fruit is concerned, I also think we should take into consideration that great dairying industry on which we depend so much for our production and revenue. I have in mind one farm in my district that has no less than" eight miles of hedge. If the owner is compelled to chop down the whole of his hedge—he is only a small farmer — I am sure it will place him in a very awkward position, because I know he cannot afford the expense of erecting a fence in its stead.