The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, OCTOBER 8h, 1923. SANITATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, OCTOBER Bh, 1923. SANITATION.

When* the. District Health Officer, Dr. Telford of Christchurch met the Hokitika Borough Council on Friday night there was heart to heart talk on sanitation. The Officer lias a very direct way of expressing himself, and his remarks had a tendency to ruffle some of the councillors, hut there could bo no doubt ns to the mission he was on and his desire to attain his goal. He requires and in fact insists upon modem sanitary schemes for both Hokitika and Greymouth. He indicated he had the support of the Dominion Beard of Health in these matters, and plainly and pointedly asked what the local Borough Council was going to do about it. .ludgnig by the Mayor's remarks that gentleman was rather non-plussod at the. order put forward. Mr Perty was aware tha{ some years ago an estimate totalling about. had

been drawn up as covering the cost of a sewage scheme for Hokitika. The Town Clerk indicated that with prices at the present peak that estimate could bo doubted! If that he so, the cost is far beyond the rating resources of Urn community. The difficulty about a sewage scheme for the town, is that many parts are low lying, being very little above the level of high tide. This is so in Tam-red Street, which would icqnire a main server to carry sewage from the l rincipul business and hotel portion of the to mi. In any case it would be necessary to discharge the effluent into ih" river, as (be sewers could not discharge soar.aril. With the ic(iucc.t fall available by reason ot the low parts of the town, a pumping scheme would l:e requited to finally discharge the nmitcr. This would not only add to the initial cost <■.( sanitation, but would ill •reuse very great iy the muning cost, which would In'. verv considerable, ami it becomes a [picslion first to be asked what' is the cost and the prospect ot the borough financing it. Assuming that £20.1 112 1 would provide the co-t ot initiating ihe scheme the total cost would he probably twin, that about £1,200 per year would b<* required for interest mid sinking fund on the loan This would mean live pence in the £ on the present rating value, and ii would in addition require the product of another three pence in the £, to run tin* scheme. Tbe impost on the ratepayers would ho more than the majority would he ready to accept. The Council for the time being has taken a middle course. It. has resolved to represent the position, to tin* authori-ties--the Dominion Board or Health which is lo meet next month. What lias been done in tla* past, will la* explained, and the Board asked lo advise m respect to a scheme which will tie within the resources of the community. It, was agreed, very properly, that the Council approves of practical steps being taken if within financial bounds, but until tbe limit ol ex|i*iiditure- necessary is aseerla ined. tile Council, obviously, cannot give a definite answer. A local scheme presents features which do not obtain in man,'' other centres. 'Hie low-lying character of parts of the town, where the residences arc most congested, piesonts a feat-tiro which to deal with ollectively, is costly necessarily. Dr. Telford is no doubt doing his duty in requiring the work to Ik' done, and ordinarily the Council would he doing its duty in responding to the request- with alacrity; hut in view of the huge cost tlu> community would have to hear, the Council has a- further duty to consider. Thc.-o requests must be reasonable, tbe Council cannot sanction tbe impossible for such it would b,. il complete sanitation wen* to be tit tempted at tin* very large figure which lias been mentioned as the probable cost-.