HAWTHORN HEDGES.

Shannon News, 27 July 1928, Page 2

HAWTHORN HEDGES.

■ , ♦ ERADICATION IN MANAWATU. Hawthorn has been found to be the chief host of the disease affecting apples and pears and known as fireblight, and as a protective measure for; orchards it is being condemned in many districts. Farmers, however, are protesting against this course. Speaking on the Orchard and Garden Pests Aet in the House of Representatives last Friday night. Mr J t . Linklater, member for Manawatu, said': "While I have to congratulate |he 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 milea in the Manawatu district vvithin which hawthorn is to be eradicated. In that district we have farmers who depend on these hedges for i heir fencing and if they-remove them, they then lose the i only- shelter the stock have in winteri. jl 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 cpneerried, I also think we should take into consideration that great dairying industry on which we depend so much for our production and re-venue. I have in mind one farm, in my district that has no less than eight miles of hedge. If the owner is compelled to ehgp 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. ! Apromise to look into special cases of hardships caused through the operation of the ban on hawthorn was made by the Minister of Agriculture, the Ho£ 0, J. Hawken.