WATER POLLUTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1084, 10 April 1913, Page 3

WATER POLLUTION.

It will be remembered that last year a farmer in the Raugiotu district proceeded against certain flaxmillers in that locality in the Supreme Court for polluting the waters of the Oroua river with refuse from their flaxmills, and that towards the end ol the last session of Parliament, as a result oi representations made by the millers, a Bill was' introduced into Parliament dealing with the matter, but after being discussed and a Commission being set up to take evidence, the Bill was eventually dropped, and at the present time the flaxmillers are in the same position as previously. A deputation on Tuesday waited on the Prime Minister at Palmerston N., and one of the spokesmen, Mr E. E. Broad, thanked the Premier for bringing down the Bill dealing with the pollution of water last session. Although it was not carried, he was sure it would be proceeded with in the coming session. He stressed the necessity of protecting millers against prosecution by persons who received no barm from pollution of waters. The millers did not desire to evade responsibility, but they did desire protection. Unless the Bill was gone on with, the industry would suffer very materially. In replying, the Premier said that the question of water pollution was a somewhat difficult one. It was necessary to prevent the pollution of streams, and at the same time place no harassing restrictions on industries such as flaxmilliug. Already the Act introduced last session bad done a great deni of good. The committee which had been dealing with the matter had gathered a great amount ot information which would be available when the measure came up next session. He thought legislation on the question was feasible, as legislation of a similar nature had worked well in England.