COUNCILLOR’S PLEA FOR IMPROVED SANITATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 66, 18 March 1949, Page 5

COUNCILLOR’S PLEA FOR IMPROVED SANITATION

Deep concern regarding the Borough’s present sanitary service and a strong plea that a workable alternative be sought at the earliest possible date were embodied in a report tabled at this week’s Borough Council meeting by Cr R. S. Buttimore. While agreeing that the present system has its drawbacks, the Council could see no practical immediate alternative,

and no action was taken. Mr Buttimore said the present system of “privies” and night-soil collection, as well as being unhygienic and an ever-increasing cost to the ratepayers, attracted health undermining creatures such as flies and rats.

Here are his suggested alternatives:—

Scheme 1 That the sewerage scheme prepared for the Council in March 1938 by Mr Arthur Gray, and which included the business and Apanui areas at a then cost of £16,500 be brought up to date and extended to include other low-lying areas in Alexander Avenue and McGarvey’s Road. >

That such area be made a special rating area and application made to the Local Government Loans Board for authority to raise a loan to cover the cost of the scheme.

That, when the above scheme is put into operation, a by-law be passed requiring all householders where “privies” are situated outside the sewerage . area to instal septic tanks.

In cases where septic tanks are required to be installed by the householder, that Where necessary the Council finance the costs and such costs be repaid by householders by instalments. Scheme 2

As an alternative he submitted a septic tank scheme which was briefly outlined by himself a year ago: That the Council let by contract the installing Of septic tanks at residences and other places now visited by the nightsoil contractor, and pass a by-law to the effect that all new buildings, for living or business purposes must make septic tank provision, upkeep to be the responsibility of the ratepayer. That a loan to cover the overall cost of the scheme be raised locally on the open market. That the present sanitary fee be the basis of repaying the loan which would have the ultimate effect of cancelling the recurring cost of the present scheme. As to low-lying areas subject to flooding, he offered to submit a scheme by which this, could be overcome.

“Face The Facts” “Believing this Borough to have grave sewerage problems, the chief amongst them being lack of natural fall and the huge cost of a comprehensive sewerage scheme, I feel that we should face the facts—be not content with the present system—but seek a workable alternative at the earliest possible date,” Cr Buttimdre concluded. In the discussion that followed the reading of the report, it was pointed out that a proper sewage system would be out of the question at present, not only on account of the cost, but also on account of the fact that the present water supply would be. insufficient to handle it. So far as the septic tank scheme was concerned, Councillors doubted if the Council would be permitted by law to finance such works on private properties.