MUST BE CLEARED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32693, 25 March 1946, Page 5

MUST BE CLEARED

BLACKBERRY IN DRAINS DECISION OF THE BOARD honeysuckle and roses Pointing out that drain cleaners were refusing to clean drains overgrown with blackberry, honeysuckle and rambler rose members of the Hauraki United Drainage Board at the March meeting discussed the problem when it was decided to notify all offenders to do the necessary clearing some members suggesting that the board should do the work and charge the cost of the work to the farmer concerned. The board’s foreman, Mr W. Johnson reported that during the past month he had phoned two farmers regarding blackberry growing along Jubilee drain from the floodgate to the Kernick road boundary. The farmers had attended to the cutting of the blackberries from the batter ■ of the drain but not from the top of the ditch bank. ‘«I must say that on top of the ditch bank the blackberries, are gettino- well out of control and in cer am . portions it is getting difficult for the ■ cleaners to put the weeds out from the bottom of the drain,” reported the foreman. That about 90 per cent, of tne farmers had .either got blackberries, rambler rose or honeysuckle growing along the drain banks, was. the opinion expressed by the foreman 1 . Cleaners Refusing “ I must say that cleaners are refusing to iclean the drains where the blackberries are not cut as they say blackberries are not in their contract,” reported the foreman. The chairman, Mr C. K. Fox, said the blackberry position was getting ' worse. Mr R. Green: The board should clear the blackberry and the farmers charged for the work. Mr C. W. Schultz said the Hauraki Plains County Council should be asked to spray the blackberry and the farmer be charged for the work. Later the blackberry when dead could be cut and the farmer again charged for the work. Mr P. G. Pearce said he thought that if offenders were notified they would do the necessary cutting. Area members could supply a list of farmers with blackberry growing on and in the drains. (Must Be Eradicated The chairman said it was a brute of a job cleaning a drain with blackberry in it. Mr Schultz said it was not so much a matter of cutting as eradicating the blackberry. The spraying was definitely killing blackberry and if something was not done they would only get worse. Now was the right time to spray blackberry. lit was decided that the foreman, Mr W. Johnson, in consultation with the area members prepare a list of drains affected by blackberry for the secretary, Mr 'F. S. R. Kent to notify the offenders. If farmers did not clear the blackberry the work to be . done and the offender charged with the cost of the work. It was agreed to suggest that farmers avail themselves of the offer of the Hauraki Plains County Council to Spray blackberry, the farmer to pay the cost of the work.