FLUORIDATION Lyttelton Agrees In Principle

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30783, 22 June 1965, Page 16

FLUORIDATION Lyttelton Agrees In Principle

Fluoridation of the borough water supply was approved in principle by the Lyttelton Borough Council last evening; but only after a long and at times heated debate.

The chairman of the councal’s health and sanitation committee (Cr. N. D. Walker) urged councillors to support his committee’s recommendation that fluoridation be approved in principle. Such approval would enable further plans, details and costs to’ be prepared before the council was asked to consider whether fluoridation should be implemented. Cr. R. H. Duff said the committee already had the necessary power to bring down plans and details of costs of the scheme. He could

see no reason why councillors were being asked to approve of fluoridation in principle, but suggested that the committee was trying to foist it on to the citizens of the borough. •

“But the committee members are not going to fool anybody,” he said. “Have they forgotten that a meeting of the public held in this room some months ago to discuss fluoridation did not approve of it?” Cr. Duff said money was far more urgently needed for other projects in the port and he could foresee an increase in rates to meet the expense. He moved that the committee's recommendation be substituted by a motion holding over the question of fluoridation until more information was available. Cr. Wilson Dodds said he considered Cr. Duff was using delaying tactics and the Mayor (Mr J. B. Collett) denied that fluoridation was being foisted on to the public.

Crs. N. D. Parvati and G. C. Adams were the only councillors who supported Cr. Duff. Port Rail Service.—The council received a letter from the Minister of Railways (Mr McAlpine) suggesting that a deputation go to Wellington to discuss with him the future of the Lyttelton-Christchurch rail service. The council will discuss the invitation with the Heathcote County Council.

Diamond Harbour Road.—A decision of the Ministry of Works to defer any improvements to Marine drive, Diamond Harbour, was described by Cr. Duff as “disappointing” and “unfair to the local residents.” The council had emphasised for years that the road needed improving and it was now in a dangerous state, he said. Cr. E. A. Camfield endorsed Cr. Duffs remarks. Work has been deferred until commitments on Norwich and Gladstone quays are met. The council decided to write to the National Roads Board, emphasising urgency. New Manager.—-Mr J. G. R. Daigneault has been appointed manager of the British Hotel, the council was told in a letter from Harbour Hotels Ltd.

Borough Parking.— Tn spite of the restriction on wharf parking with the resultant increase in the number of vehicles parked on the borough's streets close tn the waterfront, the situation at the moment was no worse than experienced elsewhere, said the borough traffic officer (Mr H. B. Gore).