Inspector Criticises Kawerau Scavengers

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30960, 17 January 1966, Page 16

Inspector Criticises Kawerau Scavengers

“The Press’’ Special Service KAWERAU, Jan. 14.

Scavenging was an inglortous pastime of a lower grade than beachcombing, said the Kawerau borough health inspector, Mr J. S. Ruck. He expressed concern at the action of adults at the Kawerau rubbish dump. “Adults, who are now the worst offenders, are not setting much of an example to youngsters,” Mr Ruck said. Mr Ruck said they objected to being reprimanded for indulging in “this abhorrent practice.”

“In addition to being a serious health hazard it is definitely a breach of the by-laws to remove anything from the dump,” he said.

The worst offenders belonged in one of two categories—hoarders who collected an assortment of junk without having any particular use for it and “those who dig and delve among the mess to get a discarded article without having to pay for it.” The borough board of commissioners had, for some time, drawn attention to the

undesirability of scavenging. Borough officers had worked consistently to maintain high standards of hygiene at the tip. Mr Ruck said he was frightened at the possible effects on persons rummaging in such places. “Shoe-less children could so easily cut a foot and before long a serious case of bloodpoisoning could set in,” he said. “Worse still is the risk of tetanus.”

It was time people were made fully aware that scavenging was a punishable offence.