FLAX REFUSE IN MANAWATU RIVER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3918, 14 March 1929, Page 2

FLAX REFUSE IN MANAWATU RIVER.

MILL OWNERS PROSECUTED.

At the local S.M. Court this morning, before Mi 1 . J. L. Stout, S.M., C. King, E. W. Sutton, and W. J. Ross were each charged by the Acclimatisation Society with allowing flax refuse to enter the Manawatu River.

The inspector said that King’s mill had been frequently inspected as had been the Huia mill. Both King and Sutton had received frequent warning’s about allowing flax refuse to enter the river. Gratings had been installed at the Huia mill, hut owing to being neglected (had got iii such a bad state that they were useless.' At the Poplar Mill nothing was installed to prevent the hbre getting into the water. In the lirst two cases he did not think the minimum penalty should apply as they had had plenty of warning. Mi 1 . Bergin who entered pleas of guilty in each instance said that the Poplar Mill had been closed idoWn last year and the owners were not •conversant with the regulations. As soon (as warned gratings had been installed and every precaution taken. Mr. Bergin said that great difficulty was experienced with preventing the trouble at the local mills owing to high spring tides.

The S.M. said that he would take into consideration the fact that the cases were test ones. Fines of £3 with costs £1 were imposed in the ■case of MJessrs King and Sutton, and £2 with costs £1 in the case of Boss.