Residents May Seek Injunction

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31206, 2 November 1966, Page 18

Residents May Seek Injunction

About 150 residents in the Aranui Hall last evening adopted a resolution suggesting that the Aranui Progress League notify the Drainage Board that unless steps are taken to eliminate the cause of smells within six months, the league seek an injunction.

The Mayor (Mr Manning), who presided, said he could hear only one dissentient voice.

The continuing smells were in the Aranui, Wainoni, and Bromley districts, the resolution said. The Labour member of Parliament for Avon (Mr J. Mathison), who moved the resolution, said that if there was a legal contest with the Drainage Board, it could cost the residents £5OO. The money could come from one source—the persons whose property would depreciate if the smells were allowed to continue. A donation of about 5s to 10s a household would be sufficient to meet this. Mr Mathison’s motion was seconded by the National Party candidate for Avon (Dr. J. R. Dawson). “Unless you bring some pressure to bear on the Drain, age Board you won’t get any action,” said Dr. Dawson. Mr Mathison said that the stench did not come from the Drainage Board’s treatment plant but from an area west of the board’s treatment station on the location of old ponds. He said that whenever the crusts over the top of the old ponds were pierced, the smell occurred. “I could reproduce that stench over a wide area by the pressure of my heel.

There is effluent underneath to a depth of several feet, that has not been mixed with sand or earth to absorb it.”

Mr Mathison suggested that the area be covered with about 3ft of sand or about 18in of soil.

The smell was coming from the same areas as before October, 1962, but the smell today was not as bad.

Members of the audience: No, no, no. The chairman of the Aranui Progress League (Mr B. R G. Holmes) jumped to his feet at the official table and said: “Don’t believe it.” Mr Mathison said he wished to preserve the value of his property in the area and to ensure the comfort of his family. He had as much interest as anyone in rectifying the situation.