BEES ON THE WARPATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18300, 17 January 1923, Page 6

BEES ON THE WARPATH.

ROAD MADE DANGEROUS.

LEGISLATION TO BE INVOKED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CHKISTCBURCH. Tuesday, During last summer many complaints were made of the risks users of the lower Lake Road at Irwell had to run by reason of hives of bees having been placed close to the road. One veil-known tradesman had a runaway through the bees attacking his horse, and had to refuse to pass that way for some time owing to the risk of a serious accident.

Quite, a number of other people also had unenviable experiences, and it became clear that something would have to be done to abate the nuisance. The Eliosmere County Council was obliged to take the matter up in the interests of public safety.' Representations were made .to tb© apiary division of the Departmentof _ Agriculture and to the Hon. W. Nos--worthy, Minister for Agriculture, but it. was found that there wis no legislation on the Statute Book under which tho council could compel the owner to remove the U«3 to a safe distance from the roadside.

Acyori© suffering injury through the attacks from the bees could prosecute the owner Tor damages ' if they could satisfy the Court that the attacking bees were from the adjoining apiary. The evidence of identification • v/culd be... obviously rather difficult to collect.

As a result of further representations to the Minister. .Mr. Nosworthy has promised to have the matter fully considered when the Apiaries Act "is being amended at. the next • session of Parliament. There "was no time to amend it. during - last session, and so the position remains unchanged. The council is powerless to do anything, and there has been a recurrence of narrow escapes from accidents on account of the attacks of bees.