RESIGNATION THREAT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 23 November 1938, Page 6

RESIGNATION THREAT

TAHUNANUI FIRE BRIGADE ULTIMATUM TO TOWN BOARD NOXIOUS WEEDS MUST BE CLEARED Al le.'it evening’* meeting of the Tahunanui Town Board Mr L. Haywood made a dramalle announcement, In the nature of an ultimatum, to the effect that if the noxious weeds in the district were not cleaned up immediately the members of the loral fire brigade would ha.nd in their resignations at the next meeting of the board. By noxious weeds Mr Haywood was referring more especially to areas of gorse adjoining dwelling houses in the district. He said that if any of that gorse caught fire, and there was u distinct possibility of it during the dry season, the brigade would be laced with a hopeless task in endeavouring to save residences. As matters were at present members of the brigade felt that the responsibility, with their limited equipment, was too great for them. If a conflagration did occur they would only make themselves appear ridiculous in turning out. The question had been well talked over, said Mr Haywood. and the brigadesmen felt that unless the trouble was remedied there was only one course open to them, and that was to resign. In reply to a question by the chairman (Mr C. H. Chamberlain), the Town Clerk (Mr W. Heslop) stated that notices had been sent out to the offending property owners on 11th N> vember. The Noxious Weeds Act provided that from that date sixteen days were to be allowed to commence the clearing work, and then a month 10 have it completed. If the work was not done in that time the board couid institute legal proceedings, or do the work itself and charge it to the property Mr W. Gould said they should make it clear that legal proceedings would be taken if the gorse was not cleared. This would make the offenders "sit up. ' he remarked. Mr T. W. Roberts said that he quite recently had a complaint from a resident who stated that she was very concerned about a large area of gorse adjoining her property. Mr C. Palmer considered that dra£lio action should be taken if the work wui not done immediately. If someone was made an example of the trouble would not occur again. He then moved that if the property owners concerned did not clear their land by the expiry date of the notices. 26th November, the board would take legal proceedings. The motion was seconded and car* ried. It was decided to ‘inform the fir# brigade of the action taken by th# board.