PLAGUE MEASURES.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 304, 22 December 1921, Page 8

PLAGUE MEASURES.

NEW DESTRUCTORS REQUIRED UNDER BOARD OF HEALTH ORDER. AUCKLAND PLANT EXTENSIONS. NEW EASTERN DTSTRUCTOR, (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Rep.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A statement was made to-day by the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Health, that the Board of Health had, for the greater protection of the Dominion against the introduction of bubonic plague, decided that a destructor for the incineration of city garbage must be erected at once by the Dunedin City Council. The Board also decided that the Auckland City Council must erect a new destructor in the eastern part of the city, at an estimated cost of £15,000, and carry out extension work to the present destructor in Freeman's Bay, at an estimated expenditure of £6,000. COUNCIL IN ACCORD WITH MINISTER. "7NDER CONSIDERATION FOR MONTHS. NO NECESSITY FOR POLL. SITE FOR NEW DESTRUCTOR. The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, upon having the subject referred to him this morning, said that the proposal relating to Auckland emanated from the City Council, which would be iv entire agreement with the Minister. "As a matter of fact," remarked the Mayor, ''when the Minister was in Auckland he was asked, on behalf of the council, to have this question coinßidered by the Board of Health. The Works Committee of the council has for several months past had under consideration the question of the enlargement of the destructor, and the provision of a new destructor on the eastern side of the city. The Minister of Health has now confirmed the judgment of the council on this matter, by declaring the work to be so urgent that the Board of Health requires it to be proceeded with at once. This obviates the necessity of a poll of the ratepayers for the loan to carry out the work. This loan will now, in accordance with the direction of the Board of Health, be provided for by a special order, to pas* which a &pecip(l meeting 'of .the City Council will be held. "The plain fact is that with the growth of the city, and the consequent increasing demands upon this public service, the provision of ten years ago is now inadequate, and further accommodation has to be made. In view of the urgency of the matter the Minister of Public Health has directed the council throug the Board of Health to prefceed forthwith with the proposal. There will be a special meeting of the council at an early date to put through the necessary special order in relation to a special loan for tne purpose. As soon as this is raised the council will be able to proceed with the work. 'The policy of the council ta not to incur any financial liabilities until its financial arrangements are made, and steps are heing taken to do this at once. The council, after full consideration, have decided that there can be no expenditure on overdraft money which only unduly lays up liabilities against the future which is not a fair thing for those who follow the present administration." The Mayor added that the council has under consideration the matter of a site and will determine this point at its next meeting.