ELM TREES IN AVENUE

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28262, 27 April 1957, Page 4

ELM TREES IN AVENUE

Pruning Work Discussed

Damage to trees in Rolleston avenue through impioper practice is alleged by R. M. Thomson in a letter to the editor of “The Press,” He says:— “The elms in Rolleston avenue indicate that these wonderful trees have become dangerous because of man’s childish savagery. Thus, lateral branches intended by Nature for balance, have been ruthlessly sawn off, and nothing whatever has been done to heal the torn wood. The trees have endeavoured to produce healing bark with only partial success, with the result that weather has steadily produced a rot going down the trunks into the roots. In addition, two trees have been so severely injured by building operations as to be practically incurable. When I was a lad in the Technical College agricultural course, we were taught remedies to heal amputations in trees. Instead ruin is passed on to the taxpayer.” Reply The Director of Reserves (Mr H. G. Gilpin) has replied:— “The. trees in Rolleston avenue are a * mixed lot comprising 27 sycamores, 20 elms, 11 horse chestnuts, 5 ash and 5 silver Birch and since these trees came under the control of the City Council in 1947, the reserves department, so far as I am aware, has not as yet undertaken any extensive tree work on them. “A report has been submitted to the council on the condition of the trees and it is intended to carry out necessary tree surgery on them this coming winter. Any branches necessitating removal by the reserves department are not ruthlessly sawn off or the wood torn, and wounds are painted with •a tree wound preparation.

“If Mr Thomson so desires I would be only too pleased to discuss with him, not only the trees in Rolleston avenue but algo trees generally under the jurisdiction of the council.”