“CLEAN UP WEEK.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1916, 17 December 1918, Page 2

“CLEAN UP WEEK.”

THERE is at present a great enthusiasm for municipal and private sanitation, but without some organised encouragement there, is a risk that this may presently wane before the warfare against dirt and disease lias become a habit. With their usual ingenuity our American friends have devised a plan for the regular stimulation of this health campaign, and to the enterprising town clerk of New Plymouth is due the credit for introducing their methods successfully in New Zealand. In his annual report fo the New Plymouth Borough Council ■last year, Mr F. T. Bellringer commended the experiment made in Philadelphia and other cities of an annual “clean-up week,” the essential feature of which is an invitation to all citizens to collect all refuse on their premises—residential or business —and place it in piles on the kerb for removal without charge by the municipal authorities. After three years’ trial, Philadelphia decided that “clean-up week must be regarded as a part of the business policy of a municipality. It has served its purpose, and its success is assured.’’ The results secured were claimed to he a reduction in fire loss and risks, the improvement of sanitary conditions, a great reduction in house Hies and ojher vermin, and a higher standard of civic pride in the people for their city.’ The town clerk’s suggestion was adopted by (lie Borough Council, and last November New Plymouth had its first “clean-np week.” According to Mr Bellringer’s last report, “(ho scheme was taken up with great enthusiasm, and in the result proved much more successful than was anticipated. Practically every house and section in the borough, had a general cleaning up. Rubbish of all descriptions was put out in startling (|uautitics, and in all some -dO loads, comprising approximately 130' tons of rubbish, were removed. The cost to (he borough was £BO, hut, this being the first lime such a scheme was attempted, there was naturally an accumulation of several years to remove.” Against the first cost, il has been found (hat a considerable proportion of the collection has a commercial value. The scheme has altractive possihiiifies, and with a fully organised system of ednentiona! propaganda, might he made an effeelive antidote against insanitary conditions.