CITY GARBAGE DUMPS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22104, 28 May 1937, Page 7

CITY GARBAGE DUMPS

TO TH» EOITOB OF TH« PRESS. Sir,—An old familiar landmark is to disappear. The rubbish destructor, having served its day and generation, is to be retired. The old is to give place to the new. Garbage in the near future is to be buried, and the old unsightly shingle pits in our suburban areas will be prepared as parks and playgrounds for the future. Christchurch has one finished example of this work—Bradford Park, late Smart's pond, Sydenham. Viewing this park to-day, residents in its vicinity realise

how well rewarded they are for patiently enduring the discomforts associated with its preparation as a park. The city and suburban garbage was dumped in the old pond and covered with earth. During this process a plague of flies that would have made the old residents of Egypt envious lived at the works and had frequent holidays in the homes of nearby residents. Rats were there also almost as thick as a liock of sheep. This was not so bad while the tipped garbage provided food, but the time came when the job passed the rat food period. Then neighbours to the pond found they were faced with two problems; either to provide the rats with homes, or make war. War was declared, and it was quite exciting while it lasted. I caught five in one week. These will be some of the defects in the proposed new system. I will not deal with the many and varied odours in evidence during operations. These are better imagined than described. The present smoke nuisance is a rose garden by comparison.—Yours, etc., E. C. SUTCLIFFE. May 27, 1937.