MENACE OF BLACKBERRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19660, 11 June 1927, Page 15

MENACE OF BLACKBERRY.

FAILURE TO CLEAR FARM. MAGISTRATE IMPOSES FINE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] THAMES, Friday. Alleging that defendant had failed to clear his farm of blackberries, the noxious weeds inspector, Mr. R. Denize, acting for the Department of Agriculture, proceeded against C. J. Winder (Mr. Garland), in the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr. F. W. Platts, S.M. The inspector said defendant had 160 acres of land at Hikuai, which was grossly infested with blackberry, as photographs, which he produced, would show. It serioulsy menaced the adjoining soldier settlers' farms. Counsel for defendant said his client had cleared three out of 20 acres, as required by the Act. He pleaded hardship, 011 the grounds of difficulty in supervising his farm in such a remote locality. The inspector said he had a duty to perform to the soldier settlers, and to his department. The case was one of the worst he had to deal with under the Act, and he would press for a substantial penalty. The magistrate, 111 imposing a fine of £2 and costs, told defendant he must clear his land of blackberry at the proper season of the year.