NOXIOUS TRADES.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18636, 10 March 1926, Page 9

NOXIOUS TRADES.

HEALTH AT STAKE, PROPOSED SPECIAL AREA. < LOCAL BODIES' APPROVAL. At a conference of alt local bodies in < the metropolitan area, held last oven- < ir.g, unanimous approval was given to the proposal that a representative board be set up, to deal with offensive ! trades. Those present were: Crs. C. P. Agar, C. Carr. A. McKellar, D. G. Sullivan, < M.P., Mr J. S. Neville (Town Clerk, Christchurch City Couucil), Mr H. S. S. Kyle, M.P., Mayo*, and Cr. T. M. Ford (Riccarton Borough Couucil), Crs. t W. W. Scarff, J. U. Moore. Mr A. E. ' Inder (Heathcok* County Council), Cr. A. Freeman and Mr G. Maginness (Paparua County Council), Cr. H. l'atcrson (Waimairi County Council), and Dr. T. Fletcher Telford, Medical Officer of Health. Cr. Agar, who presided, said the City Council had called the conference at the request of Dr. Telford. The latter had met the By-laws Committee, and had outlined his views. They realised that the health of the community was at stake. As far as the City Council was concerned, no consideration had been given to the mattor of setting aside a special area, but the general view was that all the local bodies which would be affected should decide tho matter. Medical and expert advice should guide them in their deliberations. , Dr. Telford said that he had had under consideration foi* the past five years the subject of the establishment of an offensive trades area. At present' three main areas were in use. Woolston had been set aside by the City Council, the Sockburn-Hornby area was in the Paparua County, and under the Waimairi County Council there was the area at Belfast. Woolston Unsuitable. Woolston was entirely unsuitable, as it was low-lying and subject to spring tides. It iwas impossible to obtain enough fall and no sandy soil existed for the final filtration. To call on the companies now operating there to pump the trade wastes to a higher level, and establish an artificial bed of shingteand sand would involve them in prohibitive expenditure, and probably cripple the industries. Referring to Belfast, he said the effluent from the freezing works and the soap and candle factory went into the Waimakariri river, and more effective means could be .taken to make the effluent purer. At Hornby and Sockburn free shingle existed in. abundance, but there was no body; of water to carry off the effluent, whioh, of necessity, percolated into the ground. This was actually the method in use, and a whole series of paddocks was utilised. It was not a good thing for a city which was growing not to have some, decided plan for the future. Outlying local bodies which must in the future become merged into the City must take an interest in the matter. The old pioneers had had wonderful foresight, but this was a matter they had overlooked, as they were unable to foresee that Christchurch would become a manufacturing centre. ] Residents had only to realise the number of trades growing up to see the prohlem which faced them. Chimneys were increasing in number, and on frosty mornings the City was covered by a canopy of smoke, which was not in the- interests. of health. Fortunately a, good deal of gas and electricity was used in Christohurch, reducing the amount of .smoke from resi-> dences. They did not want accentuation of the conditions which led to the disintegration of masonry and brickwork. Dr. Telford appealed to those present to approach the question, hot in 'any parochial spirit, but with a view to the promotion \of the health of the whole community. Empowering legislation should be obtained to enable the defining of ah offensive trades' area. Industries which should operate there were bone-drying, shellgrinding, v shell-oripening, skin-drying, feather-cleaning, feather-drying,. '•■ and fish-curing. The area should be on the leeward side of the City. Railway facilities, prevailing winds, and sparseness of general population must also be considered. Sumner and Redcliffs and the areas around the neighbouring bays at the foot of the hills, right round to the Heathcote railway station, would not be euitabld, as in 20 or 26 years the whole district would # be residential. The possible (establiahment of a zoo would * also require thought, and it should he placed near the defined area. A Combined Board. If the'local bodies combined to constitute a board, a special engineer could be'appointed to deal with 'the trades. With him one or more chemists could act,' or he could co-operate with those associated with the trades. This would be better than the present haphazard methods. Under the Health Act, 1920, focal bodies wore empowered to bring down by-laws governing offensive trades, and compelled them, under Section* 64 and 55, to issue licenses annually. These were good principles. The duty of the board set up by representatives of the various local bodies, under empowering legislation, would be to decide with the Health Department where the industries should be situated for the future. Great progress would be made by the constitution of the board. Dr. Telford made reference to the effects on buildings of the various vapours generated by nitrates and sulphates, and nitrites and sulphides. Fortunately, he said, Christchurch had an abundant water supply, and if the area happened to be outside the artesian limits, it would not be difficult to bring in. an adequate supply. Dealing with drainage, on the leeward side of the city there were great beds of shingle which allowed for a tremendous amount of filtration and purification. Impervious layers in the artesian areas prevented the downward percolation of dangerous effluents. "Only Possible Solution." Cr. Agar said that, if established, the Board would be supreme over local bodies. It seemed to him the only possible solution, as separate action by the local bodies would lead only to friction. "What area would suffice for noxious and offensive trades in the next 20 years 1" asked Mr Maginness. Dr. Telford said he had not given that aspect consideration, but allowance would have to be made for substantial growth. He had no idea of the needs at present, but any area approved must have reasonable road or railway access. Mr Kyle: Which is the most suitable part between Belfast and Sockburn! Dr. Telford said the river-bed area in the north-west, which was not suitable for agriculture, might be utilised. Cr. Carr asked whether the prevalence of nor';westers. would not be a drawback. - Dr. Telford said that easterly was the prevailing wind in Christchurch. In reply to Mr Maginness, he said that although other health, districts had

not yet taken action such as a* saggested, they would be compelled to. «• so later. Cr. Freeman asked -whether the removal of the existing works witk»t compensation was contemplated. "Or. Telford said this would be an injustice. However, it would be possible *• stop them from, expanding or taking up fresh lines of indnstry. Mr Maginness said tho Caaterburr By-Products Co. had never obtained * permit, but had bought premises whsta. the trade was already operating, before the coming into existence of the'Aei. The company had bonght out a osaman soapworks. Beplying to farther questions, Jte. Telford said Woolston would be meat affected by the adoption of a special area. Noxious trades at Sockbura. 1 could expand for a reasonable time. ; and Hornby was not a large residea--1 tial area. Nobody should live ia the I special area but 'caretakers employed. ' in tho works. Cr., freeman said there should ba ' more than ono area, and trade* saoald ' be graded in order of otfffßSiveacaa. A Besolottos. Cr. Carr expressed general approral of the scheme... Although, ia a sen**, they had enough local bodies, it WW be a sound move to establish a Battel which would later lead to a. Metrefojitan Board of "Vforka. Toe latter we*** then take over the former'* fuaetSoa*. He then moved the following iese«* "That having heard Dr. Telford, tkS» meeting of representative! of to« 4 bodies, approves of the proposal mi, an obnoxious and offeitsive t**«* area or areas' ahonld be mtMS. The meeting also approves of ta* j#o* posal that local bodies within « *«*- mile radius of the Chief Pea* Qmt* should combine to promote legialttit* providing for the setting-up of ***&+ sentative Board vasted wit* patter m . define such obnoxious Jr*d»s »«•* •* areas, and make fey-laws for **• ff** eminent of such mit the matter lor the coaiidSTtjiga of the local bodies eaoetasl fc JPf metropolitan area xnentioßed.** WHW* operatives, were patented fans ffifgf in the defined area, their purpose wesM be defeated. ■ In seconding the resolution, <>- Sgliv/m complimented Dr. Telford est km high-conception of doty. It wjjM *• better, he said, to leave out of their minds which area should b* adopted, as this was a question whieh wean only generate antagonism to thegeaeraf idea—a proposal in aecordajttspwnh common-sense and in lino with thought on town-planning. If they promoted a Bill, it would bo incorporated ia th* general legislation. Perhaps th* Gtjr Council would convene another eoafsr■ence to lay down the lines of the legislation. "Not Convinced." • Cr. McKellar said the works were at Woolston because of the drainage there. Dr. Telford had not coaviaese? him that drainage existed in the areas he proposed. Woolston had growa «p around its industries, and if aa ordar was issued that the works must go tea miles out of town, people owning then own houses would be. let% stranded. The Health Act was a comprehensive measure, yet no provision had beta made for action along the Uses they suggested. He was not sure the meeting was representative. Cr. Paterson said that before taking action, they should submit a copy ef the resolution to the County Councils. He did not care about committing Wai* mairi. Cr. Carr said it was only a recommendation, and would not bind any of the bodies. Mr Kyle supported the resolntioa. Cr. Ford moved aa amendment: "That the meeting adjourn to allow the local bodies to give it further consideration." There was ao seconder. Cr. Carr said that the Government followed the lead given by local bodies in matters affecting them. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. " -