RE THE REMOVAL OF NIGHTSOIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 87, 14 April 1899, Page 2

RE THE REMOVAL OF NIGHTSOIL.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l understand that the City Council have agreed to the tender of 4d per week, which amounts to 17/-! per year, while the old price from Mr Casey was about 10/; and another expense to the house owner is the alteration to the W.C. to suit the iron boxes. The new boxes are about onethird less in size than the old style. I believe it was stipulated in the old contract to supply each box with dry earth, which was never carried out, and .if that matter had been attended to there would have been no complaints. I consider that it is immaterial whether the boxes are of iron so long as there is no nuisance.—l am, etc., RATEPAYER

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Do I understand that it will ba compulsory on the part of house agents and house owners to engage the services of the new contractor for the new double-pan system, the cost of which will be about £1 per year for each pan? In some houses quite three puns will bo needed to meet the requirements of the family. Dosa this mean £3 per year? If so 1 shall most certainly object, because if the City Council were to call for tenders for the removal of nightsotl under the present system with the necessary improvements added, such as two boxes for each w.c, the service could be performed at 6/ to 6/6 per year for each house. "Why, then, this large expenditure? I am amongst many thousands in the city who are not intending to pay this large increase for the removal of nightsoil unless compelled, and I do not believe the City Council can compel me. The. Council should be very careful about this matter. AVhat may appear to be a blessing r.:ay be discovered to be a fad, for which the public has to pay through the nose. We are given to understand that the new pan system is to be performed in the daytime. If so, I should like to quote an article from the Melbourne 'Age' of Ith April, which runs as follows:—'Sir.—The groat, big, lumbering red caravans still wend their way slowly along the principal streets of Windsor and Parhran. They are supposed to be filled with airtight cesspans, but from the stench' of smell allowed" to mix with the balmy night air, one would think all the lids have been lost. Could not this work be done while people are asleep?' The letter goes on to state that the carts can be smelt 200 yaTds distant. So far as this pan system is concerned, there arc not 100 people in Auckland to-day who will avail themselves of it unless they are compelled to do so, which is doubtful. The question is one involving a great monopoly. We have seen that in the case of previous contracts, but if this pan system is adopted a greater monopoly will be created. I would beg respectfully to suggest that the Council should not complete the proposed new pan system, but rather let the contract in smaller lots or in wards—say four instead of one, as at present.—l am, etc.,

HOC AGE

[The proposed new service is a-weekly instead of a fortnightly one, and will cost about IS/ instead of 12/, as at present. The specifications also provide that the contractor, and not the householder, shall, supply metal' pans in lieu of the insanitary wooden boxes now commonly used.' The contract has not yet been signed, so that it is impossible to state the exact cost, but we are in. formed that 18/ may be taken as approximately correct.—Ed. E.S.]