NGAMOTU BEACH.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1922, Page 5

NGAMOTU BEACH.

“A DANGER TO HEALTH.” I BOROUGH COUNCIL ANXIOUS. BAD CONDITIONS REVEALED. ACTION TO BE TAKEN. “The conditions at Ngamotu beach have been a source of anxiety and a danger to the health of the town for the past six years,” stated a report presented to last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council by the inspector (Mr. R. Day). After referring to the fact that tho system of removal of refuse had not been satisfactory, the report continued: “In my opinion the proper way to do this work would be for the committee to get its own man to do the work and have a small incinerator. He could give the matter the personal attention which it is impossible to give from here. Failing a small incinerator, the stuff could be removed to the tip. But the essential point is the necessity of constant personal supervision. ‘The cause of the serious danger is the utter lack of drainage of an/ description. The nature of the ground makes it impossible to provide soak pits. Five years ago I submitted a scheme whereby every house could have been provided with drains at a cost of £5 per house, but nothing was done. At the present time every drop of water is thrown on the surface of the ground, and this is the defect that will some day cause a very bad spread of typhoid.” , , __ After the letter was read the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) said he had called for the report, because he feared the possibility of an epidemic at the beach. When the hot weather prevailed the conditions were simply unbearable, and arose “°J n the fact that successive people usedi the cottages and were only casuals. Rubbtaa had been buried in the sand, which was more of a preservative than a decomposing agent, with the result that there were not many of the sites round the houses where a spade could not be put in and turn up refuse. Flies were very prevalent, and the method of sanitation was altogether unsuitable for the place.

“LIVING IN SHACKS.” The Mayor added that some steps would have to be taken to endeavor to relieve the position. He understood that the houses were let on the condition that they were occupied only for eight months of the year, but, owing to the shortage of accommodation, no action had been taken. Another winter was approaching, and people were living in shacks —for that was really what they were—built in a manner that would not be allowed in the borough. He moved that the Harbor Board be approached and asked to put into force the conditions upon which the license to erect these buildings was granted, so that at any rate there would be an opportunity of emptying these houses for a part of the time, and some better conditions provided, or nature could help in some respects during the winter months. Cr. J. Kibby asked if the council owned any of the houses. The Mayor replied that the council bad two cottages, but they were not in this locality. He added that there had been quite a lot of mild sickness on the beach lately, the malady being known as beach sickness. It was supposed to be due to the heat, but he did not know if it would arise unless there were other factors present. The motion was seconded by Cr. Kibby. Cr. R. L. Parkin doubted if the Harbor Board would have a possible chance of getting the tenants out. In reply to a question the general manager (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) said that the controlling authority was the Ngamotu Beach Committee. It had been suggested that they should be compelled to put in a septic tank and a proper drainage system, but the objection had been that the committee had no permanency, as the Railway Department and the Harboi Board would eventually take possession. DANGER OF INACTION. The Mayor said the trouble at present was that everybody said nothing could he done, and conditions got worse day by day. Cr. R. A. Large suggested that the conditions should be pointed out to the Ngamotu Beach Committee, to which the Mayor replied that attention had been drawn to the matter, but nothing was done. The council had gone out of the usual route to provide a service for the removal of refuse. Cr. Kibby: “What would a daily service cost?” The inspector: “Four shillings per week.” . Cr. Kibby: “It is cheap for safety.” The Mayor said the great trouble was to get the place sweetened, as there was such a lot of refuse buried there. Cr. V. Griffiths suggested that it might be a case in which the district health officer should be called in. In reply it was stated that the Borough Council was the health authority, acting, of course, in conjunction with the Health Department’s officials. The Mayor remarked that when he moved in the matter the weather was very sultry, and conditions at present ' were probably a little more bearable. The general manager had reported on two previous occasions—namely, in 1916 and 1921. This concluded the discussion, and the following motion was carried: “That in the interests of the public health the Harbor Board be asked to enforce the conditions of tenure under which the beach cottages are occupied.”