RUBBISH AND RATS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 202, 21 August 1940, Page 5

RUBBISH AND RATS

EJACULATIONS AND MATTERS OF CONCERN RATEPAYER'S LETTER PROVOKES COUNCIL DISCUSSION "One of the few things which, struck me mosit unfavourably when I came to Whakatane as a resident some two years ago was the absence of adequate means of disposing of household refuse andi rubbish," was the opening sentence of a ratepayer's letter which provoked discussion at the Borough Coun cil meeting on Monday night, the subject, finally resolving itself into 'Rubbiish,* with which was coupled, 'Rats/ The decision of the council was to refer the matter to the Works Committee, which is to> propound a scheme for the collection of the rubbish. "No doubt your council has its difficulties but its policy in the disposal of rubbish and refuse is entirely wrong and is not receiving sufficient attention," the: letter continued. ' "To-day," as in tile past,, householders have been; compelled to dispose of their own and when a matter of this nature is left to individuals the effect upon health and property can be nothing but damaging. For its size and state of prosperity Whakatane is far too backward and; in fact, old-fashion-ed, but we know things can only be done one at a time and as finan- ; ces permit." Is Council Doing its Duty? After, stating his experiences in striking old tins, etc., every time he put .a spade into the garden; of being tired of digging holes all over his section to bury rubbish and of seeing rats and flies breeding, the writer continues: "The council is, in effect, trustee of the property under its control for generations to come. One would hardly say that as a trustee the council is doing its duty by allowing good property to be. damaged and, in some, cases, i nearly ruined." At this stage, Cr Sullivan interrupted the Clerk: "Where's all this from," he asked. "Is it ' some sort of circular?" "This is a matter calling for ur- 1 gent attention," resumed the Clerk, "and I respectfully ask that the : council will .give the matter due and proper consideration. The col- i lection and disposal of refuse constitutes one of the first duties of a I council. It should keep its own borough clean and educate the ratepayers in 'this-matter. By this a • < clean, careful and liealthy com- | munity can be built lip and main- < tained and this is the only thing that "Will do to-day. What is seen i in Whakatane would not be toler- i ated in any other town of a similar 1 size and with the same prospects i of a bright future." ; "Another candidate for the council at the next election, opined His Worship the Mayor, after the Town Clerk had hoarse , ly concluded, his reading of the , very lengthy script. . 1 In Conjunction. i "We were going to have a 'clean- . up week' in conjunction with a 'rat week* but the materials (for the < latter gambol) didn't come to 1 hand," said Cr S, S. Shapley. "It 1 is far overdue, but is still on our i programme and as soon as we pan get the necessary ingredients we : are going to have a. clean-up," addr 1 ed the councillor, who spoke in his 1 capacity as chairman of the Works ( Committee. .' "If the householders expect the 1 council to send a lorry and men f round, we should institute a proper system," said Cr Sullivan. "The ( convenience, of course, would be 1 paid for by the householders. We ' can't add the cost on to the rates 1 because there are men farming in the Borough and they would not 1 use the service. They should not ( have to pdy for those who do. A ' lot of those with' rubbish for disposal have cars and it should not be any difficulty for them to get rid of it. We know the necessity as ( well as the gentleman who wrote ( that letter but it costs money. I. ' am- not averse to a proper collect ' tion system; T think the business of garbage tins and a weekly collection is a good one. But it should ] be paid for'by-the householder." The War's Influence. J Cr Good supported the sugges- ' tion that the Works Committee should propound a scheme while (Continued foot of next coining)

Cr Armstrong said that waiting for the poison for 'rat week' was useless, the cleaning-up shouldi be conducted immediately. * The Mayor said that about two years ago a price of £360 per annum had been put on the proposed weekly collection, but costs had risen and the price would probably, be higher. He had always been keen on a refuse collection, he said, >3-at, of course, it was a matter of finance The delay would have to be put down to the war, said . Chairman of Works Committee Shapley in elaborating his previous remarks. "It was alright when they got a free service," he continued, "but when we started to standardise it in conditions and advertised . for those willing to accept, the service, we had only three replies. Since the system of collection faded away a lot of material has been sent to the dump to feed the rats. Half the criticism heard is due to the residents themselves. I am sure the council will do everything possible to get rid of the menace (Rats), and it is a menace. All these services (Rubbish) cost money and it is just a question of whether people will fall in with the idea, which might call for as much as one penny extra in the rating." As stated, the matter was referred to the Works Commit■•''tee.