FISH OFFAL AS MANURE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1934, Page 4

FISH OFFAL AS MANURE

USE IN TAITA

A CHARGE DISMISSED

A charge brought against Philip Walters and Charles Walters that at Wellington and Taita- they cariied on an offensive trade was he*ardl before Mr. J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., in tho Lower Hutt Court yesterday. Mr, G. K. Powlcs appeared for the Hutt County Council, who laid tho charge, and -Mr. E. D. Blundell appeared for the defence. The case was Btarted late last year and adjourned. '• Continuing his evidence, Mr. F. G-. Colcman, sanitary inspector for the Hutt County Council, said that one- day in November 'ho followed, P. Walters from Petonc to Taita, and there saw him deliver a, load of fish offal to C. Walters. ne hcaid P. Walters say there was another 'load to como out and it was in bad condition. The main;difficulty, said Mr. Colcman, in a case .like- this,* was that oi' control. Complaints had been made about sacks containing tho offal being left about the place, and the neighbours had made other complaints. i f Mr. Blundell asked if it was not a fact Jhat other people were given a licence to carry fish, offal, and i why a licence was refused to his clients. Mr. Coleman said that was a t matter foT the Hutt County Council. Walter Kilmister, a neighbour of the Walters, , said Charles Walters had put offal into the ground about a dozen times, mostly about 7 a.m., and Philip Walters had brought about half a dozen loads.. The offal was not buried veiy deep, and every night about a dozen cats wen,t, to the field containing the offal. Beans were planted in the field', and the smell was so bad that ho was unable to sleep at night. t Mr. Hewitt remarked, that .'ho could view the -matter philosophically,- as ho djd not live there, but it'was different for the neighbours. (Laughter.) Mr. Blundell submitted that all that had come 'before ''tho Court was that Philip Walters ,had carried offal in his lorry and his brother had received it. There was no evidence, against Charles Walters, and lie did' not have dealings with' any third party. These men wore market gardeners whov only-, used the, offal as manure. There were other market gardeners in tho neighbourhood who .were 'awaiting with interest the Courts-decision in .tho matter.

Mr,.- Hewitt said ho could not find that the two-defendants wero engaged in an offensive trade, for thero was.not the element of trading in tho case. He could sympathise with the neighbours,' and two steps were opoa to tho Hutt County Council. ,They"could mako a bylaw prohibiting the use of tho manure in certain localities, or the men could be charged with a nuisance. He dismissed tho charge. i