NRS-112 | General files on protests against the noxious insects levy

The Noxious Insects Act of 1934 made provision for the recouping by levy against farmers of sums spent fighting grasshoppers. The correspondence in these files deals mainly with the propriety of this provision, and with various levies (1935-40). The former subject became a matter of discussion because some farmers expected either the State or the Federal Government to pay all expenses. The latter subject arose, firstly, because some farmers did not agree with the official view that most of the cost should be borne by those who did least to prevent grasshoppers becoming winged adults, namely certain irresponsible farmers; and secondly, because some farmers thought that the size of their expenses, especially those brought on by drought, entitled them to exemption from this further expense(5/3544.1). 1 box (part). Note: This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.

《1934年有害昆虫法案》规定，可通过向农民征收费用的方式，弥补防治蝗虫所产生的开支。本档案中的往来函件主要围绕该条款的妥当性，以及1935年至1940年间的各项征收事项展开讨论。前一议题引发讨论的原因在于，部分农民期望州政府或联邦政府承担全部防治开支。后一议题的缘起则有两点：其一，官方认为多数防治成本应由未能有效阻止蝗虫发育为有翅成虫的农户承担，即部分责任心缺失的农民，但部分农民对此官方观点并不认同；其二，部分农民认为自身的开支规模——尤其是因干旱引发的开支——使其有权豁免此项额外费用(5/3544.1)。1盒（部分档案）。注：本描述摘录自2000年第三版《新南威尔士州档案馆简明指南》。