EXTRACT FROM LETTER
_ LANDLORDS AND WEEDS.
MR. ARTHUR Smrrn (The Holmes, Colborne) Writes :--- " In the Schedule to the Act of 1921 it is provided that the Minister of Agriculture on being satisfied that there are injurious weeds growing upon any land may serve upon the occupier of the land a Notice in writing requiring him to cut down or destroy the weeds in the manner and within the time specified in the Notice. If the occupier fails to comply with the notice he is liable to a fine not exceeding £20 and to a further fine not exceeding 20s. for every day during which the default continues after conviction. It was also provided that the Minister may execute the work and recover summarily as a civil debt from the person in default the reasonable cost of executing the work. The injurious weeds to which the Schedule applies are Spear Thistle, Creeping or Field Thistle, Curly Dock, Broad Leaf Dock and Ragwort. It is difficult to believe that, in any case where such weeds existed, a County Council who wished to interfere would be so ignorant of the Statutory powers, as is suggested by a para- graph in the Spectator, or that a member of their Agricultural Committee 'who went to spy out the land and was chased off by the indignant farmer' would allow that to be 'the final step in reform.' Surely the Advisers of the Agricultural Committee would tell them that the Act of 1921 further provides that the Minister of Agriculture may authorize any Agricultural Committee to exercise on behalf of the Minister any of his powers under the Act. Furthermore, the Advisen would tell them that the Act gives power to any person authorized by the Agricultural Committee to enter upon and inspect any land, and that if any person obstructs the entry on the land of any person so authorized he is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 220."
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