RIVER POLLUTION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19112, 22 September 1927, Page 8

RIVER POLLUTION.

MENACE TO PUBLIC

HEALTH. ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY'S ACTION. At last night's meeting of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society the matter of the pollution of the Waimakariri river was discussed. It was reported that several companies were discharging waste matter into the river, winch was not only affecting fish life, but was also a menace to public health.

Tlic report; of Mr G. Ebert stated that the "Wahnakariri river was being badly polluted by freezing and other works. Samples taken from one of the drainage outlets had proved to be highly deleterious to fish life, as they would see by Dr. Dunham's report. One of the worst features' of the pollution, in his opinion, was that during the summer months numbers of picnic parties frequented the river, and drank the water. If it was harmful to fish, it must bo harmful to public health. Tho Waimairi County Council was trying to get power through Parliament to construct a drain to connect all those works with the main stream, which would g reatl y increase the pollution, and ho thought the Council of .the Society should do all it could to block the Bill. In his report upon the results ot analysing the samples forwarded by Mr Ebert Dr. Denham, of Canterbury College, stated that the samples were reported to have been collected an three places—(l) at the exit pipe of the factory concerned, (2) from the creek twenty yards above where the pipe delivered the factory effluent into the creek, and (3) from the stream about twenty yards below the pipe. Sample 2, physically and chemically, proved a normal creek water, noxious and offensive properties of the other tWo samples arose from decomposition of animal material, leading to the formation of ptomaines which would, in all probability, have, a marked deleterious action upon fish life, iur thermore, the presence of considerable quantities of material capable of removing the dissolved oxygen trom the water would detrimentally reduce the amount of that substance so necessary to fish life. The nuisance .would probably be considerably abated if the effluent were discharged into the main stream at intervals more frequent than appeared to be the °ase "° w - ' . f Mr A. E. Hefford, Chief Inspectoi of Fisheries, who attended' the meeting by invitation, stated that it seemed to be a clear case of pollution, and the actions of the companies were against the Act dealing with the mattor He suggested that the reports be forwarded to .the .Marino Department, whose opinion should be sought. Action should be taken immediately, as things would only get worse as time went on. The ultimate test was tho Law Courts. , * Tho question was asked that, ■n a Court action was successful, would it nienn that tho firms would be compelled to closo down? , ■ , . . Mr HefFord replied that that would not be the case, as other firms were carrying on where there was no river to take away tho waste matter. Mr Ebert: It' is getting worse. There has been more filth coming down within the past three years than ever before. It is a menace to the health of people who drink the water. Mr C. 11. Clark: The trouble is that it is always' referred to the Health Department. It might as well be referred to the man in the moon. Mr D. Hobbs stated that if it affected trout, it would be more likely to affect whitebait, which were a more delicate fish. Mr L. It. Brunton: This is more far-reaching than it appears. It is known that tho Waimakariri sweeps past New Brighton pier.) Bathers would very likely drink it. Mr C. J. Sloman moved that a subcommittee bG appointed to oppose the introduction of the Bill, and that Dr. Denham's report be forwarded to the Marine Department, requesting it to take action in the matter.

Air Eberfc: There's not a river here that is not being polluted. The Ashley, Selwyn, ■ Waimakariri, and tlia Avon rivers are all being aifeeted. It has been going on for years, and tho time will come when not a river will -be fit to fish or to drink. Mr Hefford stated that when the report was forwarded, it would be better if a map were drawn showing where the pipes delivered the effluent into the rivers and creeks. He had seen so much of the evil of pollution that he was keen on stopping it now. The motion was carried.

It was decided to send a letter to Dr. Denham thanking him for his report. '