THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1923. NOXIOUS WEEDS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4575, 15 June 1923, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1923. NOXIOUS WEEDS.

« The blackberry is undoubtedly becoming a very grave pest in parts of this district, and it would be well for those who have not taken any means to cope with the nuisance to note that at the last, sitting of the local Magistrate’s Court a conviction and fine of £2 and costs was recorded against a settler for failing to keep down noxious. weeds on a piece of land leased by. him in the county. The information leading to t,he conviction was laid by the Noxious 'Weeds Inspector. Our City Fathers are fully alive to the increasing menace of noxious weeds within the borough, and some few months ago they decided to seek the help and co-opera ,t ion of the inspector in dealing with the evil, and he was accordingly written to by the Town Clerk. The inspector, in reply, informed the Council that his duties were already more than he could satisfactorily carry out owing *o the large area he had to cover; also that the position of, inspector of noxious weeds was only one of his manifold duties. He also went on to suggest that if the Council wanted the nuisance attended to a borough inspector should be appointed for the purpose, and there the matter rested. The recent prosecution by the inspector seems rather suggestive of making a distinction when one realises the hundreds who are in the same position. It is also well known that some of the land in the vicinity of that of the convicted farmer is growing a healthy crop of blackberries. Certainly the land referred to is outside the borough boundary, and well off the main thoroughfares. It might be suggested that if the inspector finds he has got time to go into the question ofnoxious weeds, that his energies may be well directed to the property owners within the borough also. If this were done systematically there would be a general cleaning up of weeds in our town, and doubtlessly many prominent persons would be arranged before the Police Court if they failed to comply with the inspector’s request. If these steps were carried out a big service would be rendered to the borough, as the growth of blackberry is assuming alarming proportions. We would suggest that on the next occasion when the spirit moves the inspector to look into the noixous weeds question that he cast his eyes over his own back-yard fence and he will see blackberry there that has been flourishing for a very long time. There are some healthy patches in hundreds of properties which might be referred to the inspector for his attention. Taking info consideration that the inspector has a large territory to administrate, and that his time is fully occupied,, we venture to suggest that with very little additional exertion he might quite well secure the conviction of people within the borough for offences against the Noxious Weeds Act without going a chain away from his residence. If the property owners in the borough were brought to book for neglect of noxious weeds it would have the effect of moving the Boipugh Council ouit; of its lethargic state, and as a result the town would weai; a more cared-for appearance than it does to-day.