Pollution Bill Out Of Order

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32308, 28 May 1970, Page 16

Pollution Bill Out Of Order

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 27. Parliament tonight debated and declared out of order the Physical Environment Bill—a private member’s bill aimed at combating pollution. The bill, which seeks the establishment of a physical environment authority, would involve a Government financial appropriation. Before the second reading began the Speaker (Mr R. E. Jack, Waimarino) warned that it would be his duty to rule that the bill should not pass. Mr J. A. Walding, Lab., Palmerston North) said in introducing the bill for its second reading that far too many committees were being set up to deal with pollution. “We would be better off without them,” he said. Mr Walding said he deplored the frequently-met attitude which conveyed the impression that there was plenty of time to act. New Zealand had many urgent problems, he said. There were many examples of pollution in rivers and lakes. “Unless we do something to preserve our physical environment, we will be lessening the attractiveness of our country to overseas tourists," he said. Pollution Worse Pollution today was worse than when the Pollution Advisory Council was set up. “They haven’t had the resources to deal effectively with the problem,” he said.

The Government had received a great deal of advice on pollution from responsible bodies, but had not acted on this advice.

More legislation “with teeth in it” was required to deal with such problems as the fact that more than half a million New Zealanders were drinking water which would have to be improved before it could meet World Health Organisation standards. “The Government must set out standards and see they are enforced,” he said. The Minister of Health (Mr McKay) said every problem mentioned by the Opposition had at least been tackled by the Government. He denied claims that the Govern-

ment was doing nothing. "We are very conscious of the need, and a great deal of work is being done,” he said.

Mr McKay said the bill before the House only went a comparatively small way considering the whole question of pollution of the physical environment.

The Health Department—with responsibility for drugs, disposal of the dead, drinking water, food for eating, and eating places—had been concerned with fighting pollution since it was established 70 years ago. One of the most important facets of pollution control was the need for more trained staff for regulatory agencies,

particularly public health engineers, scientists, inspectors, and treatment plant operators. Dr G. A. Wall (Lab., Porirua) said there was an urgent need for the remedial measures in the bill. The main reason for Government opposition to the bill was that it envisaged the setting up of a commission that would be independent of Government direction, he said. The Minister of Lands (Mr Maclntyre), said he welcomed the bill and congratulated Mr Walding for bringing it in. Pollution and the environment cut across party lines. But he thought it had been brought in too early and Parliament found itself discussing it only days after the physical environment conference had finished.

One thing the conference had shown was that pollution i was too wide a subject for] one minister or one department. There were more than 60 acts in New Zealand that dealt with pollution. The Minister said different people saw pollution in different ways. He personally believed reclaiming parts of harbours was pollution, where some might call it advancement.

Mr Maclntyre said cost was important. The country could: have the environment it was prepared to pay for. Environmental Problems Mr S. A. Whitehead (Lab., Nelson), said urban and industrial development brought environmental problems. Slums of the future would be created without adequate urban planning and development.

“There is no room for complacency,” he said. The Minister of Works (Mr Allen), said pollution was everyone’s responsibility—the creator was at the same time the sufferer. The Minister outlined the progress made by the Pollution Advisory Council in combating pollution, but admitted 10 per cent of the population was served by unsatisfactory sewage disposal systems. Much was still necessary to| improve discharge of waste, from meat industry works.

The bill was declared out of order by Mr Jack because it required an appropriation of public money.