POLLUTING THE LAKE?

Shannon News, 17 January 1922, Page 3

POLLUTING THE LAKE?

COMPLAINT NOT SUSTAINED. Mr J. M. Milne applied to the Horojvhenua County Council on Saturday for permission carry on the business of wool scouring, etc., at Tiro Tiro Road. Re stated that fie bad started the work and was ignorant of the fact that he should have obtained permission from the Council before commencing but he hoped the Council would see its way clear to allow him to continue. He had erected all the necessary sheds, all the floor space of which was concrete and thoroughly sanitary and would pass the Health authorities’ inspection. Cr Harkness: Should he have a license? The Chairman (Cr Monk): Yes, but we can grant that subject to the premises being in conformity with the requirements of the Health Act. The Chairman stated there was another letter touching on these*' works which it would be as well to read now. It was from the Lake Domain Board. The Board wrote that at a recent meeting of that bo,dy it tyas decided to draw the Council’s attention to the fact that certain water-courses running into the Lake were-being polluted in the process of wool scouring. In consequence of this nuisance fish were | being poisoned in the Lake, and the Board requested the Council to take j immediate steps to have the nuisance j abated. I' I The chairman said he inspected the ' works and was of opinion that no pollution was going into the Lake and if fish were being poisoned it was not .through these works. The refuse of the ; works was caught in tanks. The wa- ' ter running away into the creek was i from the washing process and there ; was no chance of there being poison i in it. j Cr Broadbelt: Is there no chance of Jhe refuse tank overflowing? The Chairman:/No, I don’t think so. The Engineer: I went down the creek and inspected the works and found nothing objectionable. Cr Broadbelt, speaking as a member of the Domain Board, said the letter ' should be giyen serious consideration. ! The Chairman: The Board should have made certain before saying that fish were being poisoned by refuse ’ fro mllie works. I think if I were In Mr Milne’s place I would make them prove it. Cr- Broadbelt: The Board would hardly say that without some cause. He added that lie. was npt at the meeting at which it had been decided to write to the Council.; y i The Chairman: The Board should do the same as I did and inspect it.. He considered the Board was Wrong in its ' statement 1 regarding the fish. ] Cr Broadbelt: If works like this are put near a stream a certain amount of j objectionable matter must go down and be detrimental to the lifeVpf the fisli in that streeam. The Chairman: Have you inspected the works? j Cr Broadbelt: No. j The Chairman: Then I would advise you to do so. j Cr Broadbelt: I will. ! The Engineer stated that Mr Milne i said he was prepared to do anything jtlie health authorities asked him. j 1 The Chairman said Mr Milne bad assured him (the speaker) that he would take every possible means to prevent the pollution of the Lake... i Cr McLeavey moved that the appli- ' cation be granted provided the requirements of the Health.. Act were complied with. This was seconded by the Chairman and carried. ' As regards the Domain Board’s letter, the Chairman suggested that the Council write and say there was no thing to show that fish were being poisoned by pollution from the wool works.