CITY GARBAGE DUMP

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22123, 19 June 1937, Page 20

CITY GARBAGE DUMP

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PRESS. Sir, —Was it sporting of Mr Hiram Hunter, at a meeting of Snreydon residents last evening. wh ! ch was called by the Mayor to hear the City Council’s side of the controlled tipping question, to stand up and address the audience before the Mayor, councillors or chairman had taken their seats on the platform? I maintain that his action was most irregular and unsportsmanlike. However, as Mr Archer (a very capable chairman) dealt quite effectually with Mr Hunter later, I can leave that point. A member of the audience said rats cost England £9,000.000 in damage. I am afraid this gentleman has got hold of the wrong rat. I read an article recently in wh'ch that figure was quoted as the result of the depredations of the musk rat, imported into England for its fur. Some of these rats escaped and had multiplied exceedingly, and undermined river banks, causing th" 1 collapse, in some cases, of bridges and destroying a great deal of meadow land. A vigorous campaign was started against the musk rat, costing sum. and I believe the musk rat is ryw practically exterminated in England.— Yours, etc., G June 18, 1937. TO THE EDITOR OT THE PRESS. Ssx _ln attempting to find some justification for dumping rubbish m Spreydon. the Mayor, Mr Beanland, made an unfortunate and misrepresenting statement about Smart’s Pond, namely, that before the council took it in hand “It was a stinking hole. There was no stink there until the council took it over and began to dump rubbish there. I knew the pond 62 years ago, and have sat times beyond number with Mr Smart by its side, enjoying the beauty and freshness of the spot. There was a line of fir trees on two s f der; an artesian well gave a good depth of water, in which were scores of trout and hundreds of goldfish. These often replenished the public gardens and private ponds. A boat for the amusement of the young folk was also a feature of the scene. A photograph of the pond will help to confirm my statements. The council’s dumping caused the stinking; then the council had to do something to correct it. Mr Smart erected seats at the side of the pond, and there, at rest times, with newspaper and pipe, enjoyed himself. lam gird to say Mr Tom Smart, the son, is still with us, and he can confirm whether Mr B-an-land is right or wrong.—Yours, etc., OLD FRIEND. June 18, 1937.