"DUMPS ARE UNSAFE."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 79, 3 April 1928, Page 7

"DUMPS ARE UNSAFE."

MORE DESTRUCTORS NEEDED DR. CHESSON'S STRONG VIEWS GENERAL SCHEME OUTLINED.

The practice of shooting or tipping rubbish cannot be defended, and is J slowly giving way to a more sanitary method, that is, the destruction of refuse by fire." This is an expression of opinion by Professor Kenwood, of University College, London, and contained in his standard work, "Hygiene and Public Health," a reference volume in every health office in the British Empire. Auckland and surrounding suburbs have not all taken the hint yet, Onehunga has recently erected a destructor, while the combined local authorities of Devonport, Takapuna and Northcote have decided upon a destructor for common use of the three districts.

In commenting upon the question today, Dr. Chesson, Medical Officer of Health for the Auckland District, regretted that Birkenlikad had not seen its way clear to join in. "It is a pity," lie said, "that a similar scheme is not put in hand on the Auckland side of the harbour. 'The city of Auckland has a destructor, but it is not of sufficient Capacity to deal with all the garbage,

it being necessary for the city to hal-e dumps. Adjoining local bodies also dispose of their refuse by the same oldfashioned and unsatisfactory method. Dumps are unsafe. Where there's dirt there's danger, and where there are rats there is danger, as dumps invariably attract the rodent. In addition, rubbish tips are breeding grounds for flies and other insects.

"The condition of a dump depends entirely upon the care taken by the person in charge, and carelessness sooner or later is bound to occur, except in isolated instances. The dump at Mount Albert is certainly a model, and reflects great credit on the caretaker, but only one man in a hundred will tajce the same amount of interest in such work. There are many dumps in and around Auckland which are anything but satisfactory. f _ "With the rapid increase in population, the time is ripe for a combination of boroughs with or without the city as partners to erect destructors in suitable positions, so that garbage may be disposed of in a proper manner." In conclusion, Dr. Chesson stated that land that had been used for dumping rubbish should not be utilised for many years, as it took a considerable period of time for the septic organisms to die out.