BLACKBERRY GROWTH

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4064, 24 June 1938, Page 5

BLACKBERRY GROWTH

CLEARING FARM FRONTAGES. WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL ATTITUDE. The Waipa County Council, at Monday’s meeting, considered the possibility of a comprehensive scheme of clearing blackberry from roadside drains all over the county. The County noxious weeds inspector, M.r G. M. Wall, said the spraying machine had been improved, and he considered that it would now give satisfactory results. The inspector’s monthly report showed that read frontages were being cleared up. The Minister of Labour had been asked for help, and as a result all available local men have been placed on road work, so that they can be transferred when necessary. Five tons of sodium chlorate have been added to the July order, and 60 tons of lime taken into stock. Sales from the depot during the month comprised 202 tons of sodium and lime mixture.

Cr. Livingstone called attention to an overgTown drain in his riding, but the chairman said it was not a county drain. To a question by Cr. Johnson, the chairman said he thought some arrangement could be devised by which frontages could be cleared up and charged to the property owner or to drainage boards. Work would be undertaken by the county workmen who would be expert in the use of the machine.

The inspector said it was desirable to spray again before Christmas. To Cr. Graham, it was stated that the big growth of blackberry on Jary’s Road, that had been sprayed several weeks ago, was now dead, and there was so far, no sign of fresh growth. There was seme discussion regarding making the plant and men available for work on private properties, but no decision was reached as to policy. Discussion then turned on how much of the clearing of weeds from fence boundaries was the responsibility of the local body and how much that of the property owner.

It was mentioned that some farmers keep the whole of their lands clear, and neighbours leave the blackberry and other noxious weeds unchecked, thus penalising the “clean” farmer.

To questions, Inspector Wall said he proposed to use the machine to kill blackberry growth in all county drains as opportunity offers

Cr. Garland said farmers should be allowed the use of the machine and men at as low a price a? possible. If the charge was high, farmers would not avail themselves of the facility. Cr. Livingstone wanted the county drains, especially those on the roadsides. attended to first. The farmers could hire the p’ant later on, at a price to be fixed for the machine and three men to operate it. The chairman thought some of the drainage boards in the county might desire to hire the plant. Regarding the control of ragwort, Cr. Peacocke stated that ragwort would be growing again soon, and it was very desirable to press on with the work of eradication.

The inspector was authorised to serve notice on landowners to take all necessary steps to comply with his requirements.

The Director, Live Stock Division, advised that an allocation of an amount of £1473 for the purpose of noxious weeds eradication was being made available by the Government, subject to the conditions which applied during the 1937/38 season.