Pollution count dismissed

Press, 20 April 1979, Page 4

Pollution count dismissed

A twelfth charge laid against the Christchurch Gas, Coal, and Coke Company, Ltd, for polluting the Heathcote River was dismissed by Mr I. E. Hay, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday because it had been laid pnder the wrong act. rhe Christchurch Drainage Board had charged the company with discharging or allowing oil to escape into the liver.

The board believed that the river could be classed as New Zealand waters and had laid the charge under the Marine Pollution Act.

The Magistrate said it was inappropriate to lay the charge under this act and' that the meanings of words | in the act would have to be; "stretched” to classify the!

Heathcote as New Zealand waters.

The charge should have been laid under the Soil and Water Conservation Act. he said. The board had used the Marine Pollution Act because it carried a bigger penalty. The oil escaped into the river last September through a storm-water drainage system.

Mr C. B. Aitkinson, for the company, said that every reasonable step had been taken to stop the flow of oil once the leak had been discovered.

An application on behalf of the company for payment of costs'was declined by the ] Magistrate. I Mr N. V. Taylor appeared I for the Drainage Board.