NOXIOUS WEEDS AND TREEPLANTING.

Shannon News, 14 August 1923, Page 5

NOXIOUS WEEDS AND TREEPLANTING.

ACTION; BY COUNTY COUNCIL,

| in connection with the suggestion which Mr VV. L. Bradlieid sumnitteu to the Horownenua County Couiiicii at iast month's meeting, the Director ot title State Forest. Department wrote as follows; “The attention of this service has been drawn to the suggestion which Mr VV. L. Bradlieid put before your Council regarding planting on waste land, and it is phrasing to note tnat you expressed the opinion titat no douibt the Council would be prepare*! to agree with it. For your iniormation we are sendmg you under separate coyer two bulletins regarding tree planting which you may hud oi interest in further deciding the mentioned question. Without seeing the land referred to we feet confluent in stating that it is too good lor growing weeds only. Trees give the grower a dqflnite return .perhaps when it is most needed, and the encouragement oi tree growth in your County is worth your most wnoleh ear ted support.” ’The chairman said he was sure thq suggestion put lorward that rates id remitted on land so planted nad qutire sympathy ot Council. During month,, however, lie had gone into tne question and could not find that tiie council had any .authority to remit rates. This would liavfj to be gone into and li necessary, representation made to enable: it to be done. He would suggest that the following resolution, moved by himself and seconded by Cr. Bryant bq carried; “That tins Council approve generally to the suggestion tnat local bodies remit rates on land in tested with noxious wee ds that have been planted with suitable treqs for timber purposes, and that steps be taken to obtain the authority necessary tor tile remission oi such rates.”

Cr. Cat ley said this was a question which the Council should be careful about and see that treqs were planted before any rates were, remitted. The chairman: 1 think you can rely on tiie Council watching this. At the same- tim« tiiei liia.ttqr lias the sincere sympathy oi the Council and something niust bet done about it. In answer to Cr - . Jensen, the chairman said that the question of the remission of rates on small areas of hail an, acre or so AVas not a matter thai need concern the. Council as it would not be worth a man’s while to apply for a remission in such cases.

Cr. Cailey Avhiist agreeing with the proposal pointed out that iarmeirs nad a duty to periorm in keeping down noxious wtjeds .and snould nor look to the; Council to do too much hi tile matter. The chairman said that what Mr Bradfiekl wanted was the official recognition and approval oi the Council towards a definite scheme for the checking ol noxious weeds.. There had been a great spread of these in the district of late, years, and the Council was only doing its duty in giving any encouragement possible to an attempt to get rid of them. The motion was carried unanimously. _____