NOXIOUS WEEDS ON ROADS.

Shannon News, 15 November 1929, Page 4

NOXIOUS WEEDS ON ROADS.

COUNTY COUNCIL REQUESTS ACTION AGAINST ADJOINING OWNERS.

The ever-recurring question of noxious weeds came up at the meeting of the Horowhenua' County Council on Saturday, and led to a resolution requesting the Agricultural Department to take action against land-owners where necessary.

Gr. Colquhoun introduced the subject, stating that noxious weeds wer. 1 becoming prevalent on the roads and the Council ought to do something to cheek them. He did not think that it was the Council's liability to clear them, but the Council should see that the land-owners did so. They were a menace because the seeds could be carried by stock, causing a further spread of the weeds; and in this connection he referred particularly to gorse growing on tha roadsides. "Wherever you go on our roads/' he added,'- "you see gorse, blackberry and broom. Can anything be done?" The Chairman agreed with Cr. Colquhoun's remarks, and suggested that he move that the attention of the rdsponsiblo Department be called to the growth, alongside the roads, of noxious weeds, for which adjoining owners were responsible. Cr. Barber charged the Council with clearing briar and leaving the cuttings on the roadside, to be dragged away by sheep. The Chairman stated, 'that it was a mistake to cut briar with the seed on it and leave it on the road.

Cr. Eyder said it had been claimed that neither blackberry nor briar would grow from seed unless the seed had first been consumed by an animal.

The Chairman: The worst factor about blackberries is the long fingers they send out. Cr. Barber said he would like to know whether lupin was gazetted a noxious weed in this area. The Chairman: No. Cr. Barber: I think it should be. Cr. Gimblett: Why? Cr. Barber: Well, you are forming a Babbit Board down here.

Cr. Colquhoun: Is it worse than the rabbits?

Cr. Barber: The two combined are

pretty bad, and they live well together. Cr. Colquhoun moved that the Agricultural Department he asked to take action against adjoining owners of land where noxious weeds are growing on the roads, and to treat the matter as one of urgency, as the weeds require removal before seeding. The motion was seconded by Cr. Ryder, and was carried.