THE SEWAGE QUESTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 203, 28 August 1935, Page 6

THE SEWAGE QUESTION.

OPEN SEA OR FARM? (To the EJLitur.) The tact that the local authorities are at last aware of the serious menace that our faulty sewerage is to the health and well-being of the people makes it essential that sometime be done for the efficient drainage of the citv°and environs, and for the public benefit the sewage nuisance must be done away with for all time. To take the Orakei and Tamaki outlets to the Motukorea Channel (Brown's Island) is begging the question, as it is doubtful if it is far enough away to allow the pollution of the inner Waitemata Harbour to be cleared up, and it would most certainly contaminate the Motuihi Island, Islington Bay and Waiheke Beaches, such as Ostend, besides extending along the mainland from Eastern Beach and Howick onwards. The same arguments apply to the Mariukau Harbour; in fact owin-r to the extensive mudflats no sewage or waste products of any description should be allowed to flow into this harbour, but should either be taken right out to the open sea, or, better skill, run out on the land. There are lar ff e areas of poor country in the vicinity of Auckland which could be made into productive farm land; the expense in the first place would bo little, if any, worse than a comprehensive scheme to run the sewage out to the open sea, with the advantage that in three years or so a farm could be made payable and from then on lie a source of revenue, making also an avenue of employment for a larger number of men than any other method of waste disposal would allow of. CHAS. E. BROOKE.