Harbour Board’s Attitude To Nassella Problem

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 14

Harbour Board’s Attitude To Nassella Problem

Far from not being interested in the reported infestation of nassella tussock on its land, the Lyttelton Harbour Board had been worried about the problem and had arranged for inspections, said the general manager of the board (Mr A. J. Sowden) yesterday. He was commenting on a report by Mr H. W. Fawcett to a Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board co-ordinating committee meeting on Thursday in which it was said that the board seemed to be uninterested in nassella plants on its property. Mr Sowden said that on February 13 the board received a letter from Mr Fawcett saying he had shown an officer of the board six seedling nassella plants. Mr Fawcett had also said these plants had been removed and that it would be necessary to make a complete search of the area in the spring. A member of the board, Mr W. B. Laing, who is also a member of the Banks Peninsula Noxious Weeds Control Committee, had mentioned the nassella infestation at the June meeting of the board, and a committee had been set up to inspect the area.

Mr A. A. Maefarlane, a member of the board who was experienced in nassella tussock control, had offered to bring an expert from the North Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board, but this had not been possible.

Mr Sowden said that arrangements were being made to have an inspection before the August meeting of the board. There had been some discussion about the benefits of having the area grazed, but it was now being grazed by bullocks, Mr Sowden said. This would clear the area for the spring search.