SEWERAGE BACK TO SOIL

Chronicle (Levin), 14 September 1946, Page 5

SEWERAGE BACK TO SOIL

-Press Association

WILL SAVE COUNTRY MILLIONS A YEAR

By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, Sept. 13. A petition signed by eitizens and eorporate bodies of New Zealand, whieh was preseuted to Parliament on AugusL 'l5, will come before the Agri eultural and Pastoral Seleet Committee of the llouse next Wednesday for the hearing of evidenee in support. The petitioners pray that a Roy^l Cdnimission be set up .t,o . investigate uvidenee and- repgrt. gh;— ...... / , (1) Tlie effeo-tB of modefn . m'efhbds' bf intensive- speci'aiiWed. farming lupoxi' soil I'ertility. • \v > (2j The neeessity for the preservation of tlie humie eontent of the soil. (3) The extent to whieh organic fer lilisers are vitally necessary for the preservation of sueh humie eontent. (4j The sourees of obtaining suck organie fertilisers in New Zealaiul and in jiartieular the quantities of organie wasle availalile in urban and country tueas. (5) The niost suitable to New Zea land of methods now being employed overseas for eoinposting urban wastes and eonverting them into effective fertilisers. In the event of sueh Royal Commission finding that it would be in the national interest to New Zealand to t'oster the eonversion of city sewage aml garbage and wastes into compost, the petition asks that legislation be passeu eonstituting Waste Utilisation Boards in urban eentres to deal with sewage and garbage wastes at the earliest possible date.

The petition also states that the adoption of a scheme for the utilisation of wastes, might possibly save the New Zealand taxpayers approximatelv £10,000,000 a year as well as carry into praetieal effect the return of wastes to, the soil, thus maintaining the health aud fertility of New Zealand 's soil. The' petitioners state that a request that the inquiry should be open to the Press, had been refused. They considei this definitely against the irtterests of the publie of New Zealgnd and have aslced the Press to support their request as they consider the evidenee which will be preseuted and supported by eminent authorities, will have a considerable bearing on the whole physieal and economic welfare of the people ot the country. Consequently a report of the evidenee would be in tlie interest of the whole Dominio*. The eliief signatories of the petition are the New Zealand division of tlie British Aledieal Association supported by six eity councils, 39 county eouneils, 48 borough councils, 2,3 hospital boards and five other organisations, s ;