CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1919, Page 9

CORRESPONDENCE.

BLACKBERRY AND RAGWORT. To the Editor. Sir,—lt seems that I did not quite satisfy enquiries with regard to above per my letter of the 18th inat,, relating to the "drastic" method 1 proposed should be inaugurated, and I claim your indulgence re this important matter. Section 1 of my resolution asked "that local bodies be empowered to proclaim certain weeds a menace and was included by me (though provided by the Act) as an introduction. Section 2.—"To enter such lands with any labor as is necessary, after complaint had been received by two or more ratepayers or a notification from the Weeds Inspector, and cause such weeds to ho cleaned or otherwise effectively checked from spreading."

_ At present, as the law stands, I beli( ve the inspectors can put men on any section which is dangerous with weeds, and it was simply shifting the authority to the local body, as: a means of more quickly getting at the nuisance. I had heard that it is suggested in other districts that noxious weeds boards should be initiated to control the difficulty and my suggestion simply prevented a multiplicity of boards, etc., to worry the settlers. I claim that a local authority is the right and proper bodv to watch the interests of the settlers of this particular area. We hear all sorts of complaints regarding the red tape methods oO departments managed from Wellington. We hear all sorts of complaints regarding the present-system of weed inspectors, and it has been suggested that the people should appoint same for their own area. Analysing that, would it not be compatible'with the solution offered by the interested farmer that section 3 of my resolution, 'That the present inspectors be placed under the control'of such local bodies and that they take control of all or any joperations' authorised by such local i body" would be an advance on what at present obtains? Now, Sir, the blackberry has the uncanny habit in this part of the country of running roots at a shallow depth feet and yards away from the parent plant and then coming to, the surface. It will be seen, therefore, that without going to seed it could cover the whole section. Those sections which can be ploughed can attend to the customer, and any man with ploughable land who chooses to let his land get covered in that way can, for my part, do so (he is the only sufferer) but when he allows them to flower and then seed to allow birds to take such next door or miles away to land not ready to break up to plough, then, 1 say, he wants sitting on by someone, and if our present method of carrying out the provision of the Noxious Weeds Act has proved inoperative through having too many loop-holes, then let us try to get a method that will suit. It has been shown that certain areas are that badly infested that it is almost impossible for a man with limited capital to clean same, and in some parts of the Dominion it has been suggested that loans should be granted such men for the purpose of cheeking the weed. By section i of my resolution I asked, "That local bodies be empowered to strike and collect a rate over such property or properties as may be brought to the notice of such local body, to cover the cost of clearing or otherwise effectively cheeking the spread of the weeds proclaimed a nuisance." On analysis the proposal means that, supposing it cost £2OO to put a section in fair order regarding the control of weeds it would give the local body power to strike a small rate to ! eover interest and sinking fund, and I contend the owner having his section put in working order would, by the increased production thereby attained, be in a better position, while the seeding places which feed the whole district would be non : e.vistent! When moving the resolution I wished to add a subclause to section 4: "That .local bodies be authorised to prepare and enforce bylaws relating to the control of weeds penalties for non-compliance to be of the highest degree." It was necessary to my mind, that after cleaning the section, some means or power should be given to see that it did not revert to the same old state. Section 5 I have referred to in a previous letter (May 18) Section « simply asks "That settlers in any part of any local governing bodies district be given opportunity by petition to;; such body to have 'any' weed not Specified herein brought under these regulations in regard to that particular part of the district." I believe under the present Act tho schedule offers a wide scope in respect to the above- my object, in including the words quoted was to allow any particular corner of a district, which .may be infested with certain weeds (while the remainder was not) detrimental to sheep farming— like the "bib-a-bid"—to be enabled to «ot the relief or assistance as indicated V section 4. Section 7 asks "That local bodies bo assisted in the destruction of such birds as arc known to be instru-! mental in spreading the seeds of the baekberry (especially the minah, the. blackbird and thrush), and also in regard to those detrimental to grain growing. Some better method is required than the present half-heartod style in vogue and so far as I can gather in research among data collected from all parts of the Dominion, complaints yearly are made to the head authorises but with no tangible result—and still the game goes on. When we are told of the importance of increased production and the lack-a-daisical methods of those in authority to deal with a matter which has a vital effect on such it is enough to make any person sick; it was always thus-too much frotli and too little aetion! Put real power in the hands of the commumty through their local at,. thont.es and bang the centralisation of such matters on the head and I venture to predict a solution in a quicker wav than most imagine—leaving it entirely to the mercy of Ministers or M'sP who are afraid to offend some sunporters i„ simply ] ike too " & hypocrisy and 1 for one have had my fill of it This matter of weeds spreading is oi the utmost importance to this province and I make no apology for the part so far taken by myself regai'dinthe matter—l know I shall be misun* derstood. vilhfied, etc., but that is not going to deter me from what I know to be a public duty; the Noxious Weeds Act as it stands is a farce. 1 have tried mv bit towards Improvement with, perhaps, crude solutions, perhaps some one can improve on them. Before concluding Mr Editor, knowing I have trespassed somewhat, I should like to refer to a statement by "Omala Correspondent' l as to a solution ottered by a radical alteration m the land laws as to aggregation 1 ani in full agreement and at a later date hope to give information re that matter which will furthet emphasise the fact that our Parliamentary leaders etc are the biggest set of humbugs'ever breathed.—l am, etc., • Duihswa Read, 8$ Afar.