PAPAKURA'S MENACE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 592, 14 December 1920, Page 2

PAPAKURA'S MENACE.

CASEIN FACTORY DRAINAGE.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN

The necessity of having something done to the Awatea Creek, whici, carries the effluent from the casein factory at Papakura was strongly urged by Mr. E. S. Cole, who waited on the board at its meeting last evening. > Mr. Cole pointed out that the smell which came from the creek was terrible, and was injurious to the health of the community. He had endeavoured for the last seven years, and particularly last year, to have something done to overcome the difficulty: but without success. As the mattei was at present, it was a public menace, and in the interests of the health of the neighbourhood the board should take action to have the nuisance abated. "Prevention was better than cure," he stated, and asked what would happen if an epidemic .swept the district? He did not care what the dairy company did as long as the nuisance was remedied. Apart from the nuisance from a health point of view, the water was polluted, and his cattle would not drink the water. If the board did not take seme action he would, as an individual, take steps to have the factory closed by the Health Department. Ho pointed out that the Department had closed the Papatoetoe factory over <i similar matter. The stench from the Awatea creek was abominable, and was worse than ever it was.

In answer to Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Colo said he would like to see the factory closed if closing down would save one solitary life. If the matter was not remedied there was a great probability of the factory being closed.

The chairman said that the board spent considerable time over the matter last year, and eventually the company constructed septic tanks, but unfortunately the tanks were not a success. He passed over the creek six or seven times daily, and supported Mr. Cole that the smell was really bad at this time of the year. What would it be like when the summer advanced? Mr. Cole contended the creek should be piped throughout. The chairman supported this is the only possible solution. Mr. Jones said septic tanks bad been constructed, but from what they had heard they had not been a success. He moved that the company be written to, pointing out that a nuisance still existed, with a request that steps be taken at once to obviate the nuisance.

Mr. McLennan suppored the remarks of previous speakers, adding that an effective remedy must be found. Mr. Moi'tgome.y seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

The matter referred to above was reported at length in the "Times," when it was under consideration during last summer.