NOXIOUS WEEDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1938, Page 7

NOXIOUS WEEDS

PROBLEM OR ERADICATION.

WAGES COSTS AND OTHER

FACTORS.

Observing that noxious weeds were getting all over the country, Mr R. E. Gordon Lee, chairman of the Masterton County Council, speaking at yesterday’s meeting, said the wages that had to be paid today made it impossible for a farmer to keep noxious weeds in check. Mr Lee was referring to a resolution forwarded by the Tauranga County Council, submitted to the Masterton Council for its support, stating: “That the full control of noxious weeds be undertaken by the Government with provision that in cases where the owners of land do not effect clearance of noxious weeds, that such clearance be carried out by the Government, the cost thereof to become a charge upon the land so serviced.” Councillor H. TH. Mawley: “If you pass that motion you would give the Government power to ruin a man with a tremendous lot of ragwort on his land. The motion is too wide in its scope.” Councillor P. R.-Welch pointed out that, all the same, some drastic steps should be taken to control noxious weeds. Weeds were coming down from second and third-class land on to good lands. It was just like rabbits. A few men with bad country stocked good country. -y It was agreed that although the council was in sympathy with the position and considered that more intensive steps for control should be taken, the motion as it stood was too wide.