BLACKBERRY AND GORSE PESTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 2613, 11 August 1928, Page 5

BLACKBERRY AND GORSE PESTS.

GROWTH ON COUNTY ROADS. USE OF POISON ADVOCATED. A discussion took place at yesterday’s monthly meeting, of the Waitomo County Council in respect of the growth of blackberry and gorse on the county roads, mention thereof being contained in the engineer’s monthly report. The report stated that on several roads in the county, particularly in the vicinity of Te Kuiti, gorse and blackberry were over-growing road reserves and encroaching on roads themselves blocking the view of travellers and becoming a menace. Cr. Pratt said that the gorse and blackberry trouble on county roadsides seemed to be confined chiefly to the Te Kuiti, Mairoa, and Hangatiki ridings. For the most part, the trouble seemed to be due to lack of control and untended native lands. It would seem that it was more costly to force the natives to keep their frontages clear than for the County to do the work itself. On the other hand, there were settlers who were so conscientious in the matter of keeping their properties cleared, that they had in cases made application for permission to put their fences nearer to the road, so that they could keep the gorse clear. Cr. C. K. Wilson said that it was not only the natives who were offenders in this matter. For instance, one only needed to inspect the Government yards at Te Kuiti, and there among a stack of poles belonging to the Wairere Power Board there was a strong growth of blackberry. It was no use “puddling about” trying to get rid of this pest unless some national scheme was constituted,and until such was in vogue, any attempts to eradicate blackberry were only a waste of money. Cr. Rose:’ If the view of a road is obstructed we are bound to cut blackberry back. Cr. Pratt: Some people look after their properties and others won’t. The question is: Are we going to adopt a definite attitude in respect of native lands? If we do we will have to stick to it. .

Cr. C. K. Wilson: It will be pretty expensive. It will cost thousands of pounds—you can’t do it. The natives are not the only offenders. Cr. Rose: No, the Crown are the worst offenders. Crs.: Yes.

Cr. C. K. Wilson: All the money in New Zealand won’t get rid of blackberry unless some • insect is found to combat it.

Cr. Rose: If we compel private owners to clear, and there are abandoned or infested Crown sections adjoining, what are you to do?

Cr. C. K. Wilson advocated the use of a heavy poison which, he claimed, could be used satisfactorily in the eradication of the pest. Cr. Rose said he knew of a man who had made conscientious use of a certain kind of poison, anad after all his work he (Cr. Rose) had inspected the area which had been so treated, and the blackberry was now in a “beautiful condition.” (Laughter.) Cr. C. K. Wilson: Poison may not wipe’it out, but it does keep it down so that stock can get at it. The Chairman: I think we. should send a remit to the conference which is being held shortly at Taumarunui. Cr. C. K. Wilson: Well, the Government is offering £IO,OOO for an eradicator. Cr. Pratt: Well, I suppose we will have to leave it. I only want to point out that there are some people who look after their sections, and there are others who don’t. Ci'. Old said that where one found clean farms the road frontages were also usually kept clean.

Cr. Andrews referred to the inevitable spread of the seed through the agency of birds, which constituted a big difficulty. It was decided that the council should cut back blackberry and gorse where it was obstructing the view of roads.