FLAXMILLS REFUSE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2070, 20 December 1919, Page 2

FLAXMILLS REFUSE.

COMPLAINT BY HARBOUR BOARD. In the course of his monthly report to the Foxton Harbour Board, at its meeting on. Tuesday, Hie pilot (Captain James H. Miller) drew attention to the enormous amount of refuse from the llaxmills which was being thrown into the river, and wliiqh catches up on snags, etc., and very soon forms a shoal, and was liable to become a danger to the river navigation, and also to become a great menace to dredging operations, causing the pumps to be choked when the dredge is ready to start work. .Members agreed that tjie refuse from llaxmiils was a source of (rouble. Air Clapham remarking that it has been uu acute question since lie had been a member of (lie Board. ThcMhiard could not he Loo hard on (he offenders. Air Barber agreed that the action taken to slop the trouble could not lie 100 drastic.

.Mr Bock suggested’that the harbourmaster watch those putting the refuse into the river with a view to proceedings being taken. The chairman (Mr Hennessy) said that in many cases the stuff was deliberately put into the river. Mr Bock said that they might give the jlaxmillers 14- days’ notice to stop putting the material into the river, and that after that legal action 1)0 taken. Air Clapham said they would not he able to do any dredging if this stuff was put into the river. Air Bock said that at Tokomaru not a thread was allowed to go into the stream, so it was possible for the mills to keep the stuff out. The Board did not want to harass the ffaxmilling industry more than could be helped, but the millers, should have notice to stop the present practice.

The chairman (Air Hennessy) said lie did not favour giving the* millers any notice, and Air Barber agreed with this view. Air Clapham: It has been going on for years and years, and won’t he stopped till there is a Court case. Some of the members pointed out that the practice of putting llax and other refuse in the river should he stopped in the other portions besides those under the Board’s control, and Air Bock said the practice should be stopped from the heads up to as far as Dannevirke. Beyond the Whirokino Bridge the river was under the control of the Marine Department. Eventually it was decided that in view of the pilot’s report, the flaxmillers on the river hank he informed that after 14 days the Board will take action through their solicitor for any breach of the Harbours Act by putting llaxmill refuse into the river.