NOXIOUS WEEDS AND PLANTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 December 1932, Page 6

NOXIOUS WEEDS AND PLANTS

(To the Editor) Sir, —In common with many other motorists, I have to complain of the action or rather inaction of the Waimea. County Council in reference to the growth of noxious weeds and plants along our country roads. lan referring to the apple lands of the Nelson central area, and where all the way (or nearly so) from O’Connor’s Creek through Mapua and Tasman to Mariri, the roads are bordered with gorse, broom or blackberryin some places all three together. In the Mapua. district alone there must bo dozens of acres of broom which is rapidly extending over our roads, and in many cases is so high that it is bending over the roads, thereby restricting the available road space for traffic. This is also true of the gorse nuisance which is growing on our roads', to such an alarming extent that in some places on the main road and on many of the back roads, that it is rapidly becoming a menace both to pedestrians and motor drivers. 1 understand that the Waimea County Council does send mat notices to occupiers of land, informing them that the gorse, etc., must be cut down. This, I believe, is followed by a second notice a few weeks later, gently suggesting that a summons will issue if the order is not carried out, but as everybody knows that nothing will happen (except once in a blue moon) the gorse and other noxious weeds continue to flourish, and the wayfaring motorist continues to curse the local authority every time his car gets scratched. The ear scratching is not the worst point in connection with the matter. On some of the corners between the creek and Mapua the gorse obscures thc> view to such an extent that great care must be exercised by all motorists using this road. As a ratepayer as well as a motorist, I would strongly urge tlm Waimea ,County Council to send out another batch of notices with a statementthat if the plants in question are not cut out, a summons will follow in due course, and I would also suggest that there should be no hesitation in having instructions carried out in their entirety. Some people when they receive a notice to eradicate gorse, etc., cut a few inches off the tops of the plants, and congratulate themselves on hoodwinking the coiincil. I hope the council will see to if that this very necessary work is carried out and done to the satisfaction ol its engineer.—l am, etc., MOTORIST. Mapua, 12th December.