TRADE EFFLUENTS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21147, 24 April 1934, Page 7

TRADE EFFLUENTS

M. WELD. April 23, 1934.

! TO THE EDITOR OK THE PRESS. Sir, —I read with utter astonishment the statement made by Mr H. G. Livingstone, chairman of the Christchurcb Drainage Board that "it is evident that the position is more satisfactory than it has ever been in the past," when commenting on the discharge of effluent from certain works into the Heathcote river. I would like to know how Mr Livingstone arrived at this conclusion. How can Mr Livingstone reconcile his statement with the following: "In view of the definite assurance given lo the committee present that steps would be taken immediately to comply with the requirements of the board, it was recommended that no action be taken against the Davis Gelatine Company." If the position is more satisfactory than in the past why ask the Davis Gelatine Co. to comply immediately with the requirements of the board? Will Mr Livingstone state whether the Drainage Board ignored the recommendation of its chief inspector? Davis Gelatine, Ltd., has made life a perfect hell for the residents in the vicinity of their works, and has largely assisted in making the Heathcote river Die evil-looking dirty stream that it now is, and the time has arrived when the residents are going to fight for clean and healthy surroundings.— Yours, etc.. E. L. HILLS, Hon. secretary, Woolstou Ratepayers* Association. April 19, 1934. (.When this letter was read to Mr H. G. Livingstone, chairman of the Christchurcb. Drainage Board, oven the telephone, he said that he was not concerned with the opinions expressed by Mr Hills. The remarks he made at the meeting of the board on Tuesday evening were the result of consideration given to the report of the works committee of the board, and the opinions expressed by members of the board, who, in the last fortnight, made a personal inspection of the works, of the settling tanks and of the effluent, and discussed with the controlling authorities of the Davis Gelatine Works the manner in which they are treating and will treat the materials passing through the settling tanks. He (Mr Livingstone) was satisfied, and the board was satisfied that the position to-day was more satisfactory than it had been for many years. As to Mr Hills's question about the recommendation of the chief inspector of the board, Mr Livingstone said that he did not know what recommendation of the chief inspector was referred to.]