Elm Trees In Queen Street Must Be Removed

Chronicle (Levin), 5 April 1949, Page 4

Elm Trees In Queen Street Must Be Removed

The only splution for dealing with the suckering of the elm trees planted in Queen Street was the removai of the trees said Massey Agriculture! Goliege in a letter read at last night's meeting of the Levin Borough Council. It was in rep'y to an en.quiry made by the council following mention that the trees were sending put suckers in great quantities and over long distances, with the result that miniature plantations . were being establishe'd .in lawns and gardens of nearby houses. ( The - lettejr added, Auckland was! experiencihg . the same trouble/ j rv rjh >r r - -I'nv He . • wohdered if-, it . wpuld jbe worthwhile ;trying/a -'system of rop.t. trenphing fqr -.r, .months- •: 'befope, consideringV/. the - removah : Of >the trees, commented , the Mayor, H. B. Burdekin. He would be sorry to see them go, . . Cr. W. Telford did not think that Ihe suckering was any great detriment... He .f^t that the cutting pf the f.oots would be preferable to i the r.emoy^;.pf thgjtrees,%' | If the trees were 'goihg to be a source pf .annoyance and had ultimately • t6 be' taken out, the council rriight as well face up to the mktter now ahd remove them, said Cr! D. J; Sweetzer. Other trees couM be planted in their places. Cr. A. J. H. Allen remarked that on the basis of the letter the council would have to face the problem sooner or later. If they were repia ced with other more suitable trees in a few years the street would appear quite attractive. .The" planting season was fast approaching, said the Mayor, and if the trees were gping to be taken out arrangements should be made in readiness for rep^cing them. The town clerk, Mr. H. L. Jenkins, suggested that kowhais would be suitable for the locality. Despite the removai of the trees the suckers would cause trouble fpr some time to'come, said the overseer, Mr. E. Lycette. He thought the .council should have expert adyiee as to what species. of tree would :best suit the elimatic condicions in Queen Street. He could. agree to stripping the street of ' the trees, commented Cr. R. A. Frederikson. It had oecurred to him that alternative trees be planted now and the elms could be removed later when their replacements had grown. He thought i't savoured of vandalism to immediately take out the elms. This suggestion was supported by the Mayor and Cr, Telford. Cr. Frederikspn then moved that alternative trees be planted and the removai of the elms be deferred to a lafer date. It was seconded by Cr. Telford and carriel unanimously. It was decided to write to Massey College expressing thanks for its advice and enquiring as to the most suitable trees for the street.