Fluoridation Protest

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28629, 4 July 1958, Page 6

Fluoridation Protest

If the Riccarton Borough Council decided to fluoride the public water supply a major petition would be taken up with the object of obtaining a community poll on the proposal, Mr G. P. Blackburn, o- 30 Peverel street, said yesterday Earlier this year Mr Blackburn obtained 65 signatures for a petition which he took around homes in his immediate locality. The petition was presented to the council. It protested against ‘‘the sponsoring of injection of sodium fluoride into the council’s high pressure water system” and added: “It is citizen’s democratic right to demand pure water and to exercise our prerogative should we as a community wish to elect poisons to be added to our water supply.” No Decision Yet The council has not decided to fluoridate the water, but it has called for an investigation to see whether the addition of fluoride to Riccarton water would be safe. It is understood that the Board of Health in Wellington had its fluoridation committee refer Riccarton’s special problems to a technical group which has reported that the addition would be safe.

The council has also sought information regarding costs but it is awaiting replies from two North Island firms which are closely concerned in these matters.

Riccarton’s fluoridation problems would be the same as those encounted in the rest of Christchurch. It would be more difficult to service each artesian well and each pump evenly than it would be to add the fluoride to a single river or reservoir supply (as at Timaru or Wellington). Mr Blackburn now says that if the council decides to go ahead with fluoridation he will organise a group of friends with the object of obtaining a large number of signatures to an anti-fluorida-tion petition which will be circulated in all parts of the borough.