PAERATA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 261, 23 March 1917, Page 1

PAERATA.

THE NIGHT SOIL DEPOT. PROSECUTION PENDING A meeting of Paerata ratepayers, convened by the Karaka Road Board, was held last Tuesday evening in Mr John Schlaepfer's barn, near Paerata sta'ion, in regard to the establishment at Paerata of a night-soil depot by Mr 11. J. Hawkins, the Pukekohe Borough Council's contractor. Mr J. Batty (chairman of the Board) presided. The depot, it will be remembered, has been approved of by the District Health Officer but sanction for its establishment has been refused by the Road Board, and it was with a view of securing an expression of opinion from the ratepayers as to whether the depot should bo allowed to continue to exist or whether the Board should take legal proceedings against Mr Hawkins to enforce the closing down of the depot that Tuesday's meeting was arranged. The chairman, at the out3et, explained if the ratepayers objected to the night-soil being deposited as at present—they could havo it closed down. It was the duty of the controlling authority (the Karaka Road Board) to follow the wishes of the ratepayers. The Health Depaitment might say that the existence of the site was not detrimental to health, but if the ratepayers objected to it the law provided that it would not be allowed to remain. In answer to a question as to the possibility of night-soil being a conveyor of disease to the district the chairman said " not according to the Health Officer's view." A letter at this stage sent by the Health Officer to Mr Hawkins was read to the effect that as the result of complaints the site was not to be used. Mr Schlaepfer stated that notwithstanding the contractor's promise that the site would be given up at the end of January it was still being used. After some informal discussion, in which it was mentioned that the depot had been forced on the district by members of the Pukekohe Borough Council, it was proposed by Mr McCormick and secondod by Mr Crawford, that Messrs Batty and Schlaepfer be empowered to take proceedings against Mr Howkins and that the No. 3 (Paerata) ward of the Road District should be responsible f6r the payment of legal expenses incurred. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr D. Jamieson a member of the Board expressed his opinion that to a great extent the responsibility with regard to the site fell on the Board. He reminded those present that a conference was arranged with the Health Officer on the spot before any permission was granted and that Mr Schlaepfer and he (Mr Jamieson) were notified to meet the Health Officer. The whole matter was then dealt with on the ground and as the result the Health Officer gave his permission. If the depot was goiug to be stopped (continued Mr Jamieson) it should have beea stopped then. If any objections had been raised the Health Officer would not have issued a permit. Just prior to the close of the meeting Mr Hawkins put in an appearance and announced that he had already received a summons, taken out in the name of the clerk to the Karaka Road Board, charging him with carrying-on an offensive trade, the case being set down for hearing at the Pukekohe Magistrates' Court on Thursday, April sth.