POLLUTION STUDY

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32430, 17 October 1970, Page 14

POLLUTION STUDY

Proposal not accepted Proposals by the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society that the council share in the cost of a pollution study in the lower Waimakariri River by zoology students at the University of Canterbury were not accepted by the Waimairi County Council on Thursday evening. The council accepted a recommendation to this effect from its finance committee, which reported that the North Canterbury Catchment Board, the authority responsible for pollution level investigations, already had a continuing study under way in co-operation with the Christchurch Drainage Board. The committee reported that the society had indicated that Professor G. A. Knox, head of the zoology department, was in favour or the student research programme. Professor Knox said that suitable students would be available, but the research would cost about $l2OO, and the society suggested that Waimairi, and the Kaiapoi Borough Council, would join the Catchment Board in sharing the cost. Cr W. R. Holmes (a member of the board) said that the catchment and drainage boards were spending a considerable amount on research and a biological survey as proposed would have little benefit unless it was a continuing process. On the motion of Cr A. A. Adcock, the council decided to ask the Government to take steps to reduce and control the pollution of the river. All organisations interested should insist on something being done, he said. It was not good enough that two or three wealthy companies should continue to pollute the river.