THE TOWN BELT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 133, 2 December 1910, Page 2

THE TOWN BELT.

PROBLEM OF GORSE. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. CITY COUNCIL'S POLICY. The problem of gorse on the Town Belt was discussed in. a serious spirit by the City Council last evening on the report of the Reserves Committee : that it had given careful consideration to the reports of the Inspector of Police and the Superintendent of Reserves as to the gorse nuisance on the Town Belt. It was of opinion that the only effective remedy of the nuisance would be the following : — That the Town Belt sections be resumed as they are required for clearing gorse. When cleared, upset rentals to be fixed for the sections, and then re-leased ; all the Town Belt tenants to be informed accordingly. The committee strongly urged that provision be made in the next year's estimates for the sum of £1000 for gorse-grubbing on the Town -Belt, and that the gang of four men engaged on this work be" kept on as at present. LEASE IT TO INDIVIDUALS. __ Councillor Barber advocated tuat plots of the Town Belt should be allotted to adjoining^ owners for the purpose of beautifying the belt piecemeal, and that a prize of £50 should be offered to the best plot. It was the only way the council could keep the Town Belt in a proper condition. Personally, he had been called on to remove a fence round some trees he had planted on the bell. . Councillor Shirtcliffe said that some such scheme as suggested by Councillor Barber had already been tried on a small scale and caused endless trouble But he recognised the .seriousness of the gorse question. If they did not do something rery shortly, they might have to strike a rate to keep the gorse down. The northern end of the belt was far the worst. There was urgent necessity for immediate action. WORK FOR THE -UNEMPLOYED. Councillor Trevor thought it was a good opportunity for employing a number of men — driven out by' the unions, he was going to say — but men rather old and not so nimble as they were. He had many such men,, coming to him for employment. Councillor Luke said the Reserves Committee had no money to carry out the work. The only way was to re sume the sections and let them out in smaller areas to people who would keep them clear. As to trees planted — Councillor Barber ; Have you got value for the money spent ? Councillor Luke declared it was impossible to prevent some of the trees dying. The- Mayor assured Councillor M'Laren that it was quite impossible to carry out a large scheme of Town Belt improvements during the present financial year. Councillor Cohen deplored running horses and fowls on the Town Belt. That was no way to keep the gorse down. Councillor Fitzgerald urged the expenditure of more than £1000. Councillor Fletcher characterised Councillor Barber's admission that ho had refused to remove a fence at the request of thp council as llouting that body. The report and recommendation of the committee was adopted, and on the motion of Councillor LuKp. it was decided that in the meantime the City Solicitor should be instructed to suspend prosecutions ordered against certain lessees. '