Akaroa Beach

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33382, 14 November 1973, Page 16

Akaroa Beach

Sir,—l read with interest your papers recent report on the sale of the Akaroa hotel, which included a land agent’s description of the town as being potentially the Queenstown of Canterbury and screaming for development. Whether or not the agent’s prediction is well founded, Akaroa’s most crucial asset is its aquatic environment and specifically the beach and foreshore. While visiting the town during Show Week'end I found the swimming beach to be foul and smelly. It was littered with the waste products of the fishing industry, a varied assortment of tins and bottles, and tidal residue of some weeks standing. I would suggest that at present Akaroa’s beach holds

potential for students of pollution and health inspectors.—Yours, etc., HEALTHY HARRY. November 12, 1973. Grubby Christchurch? Sir, —R. A. Proctor and R. S. Newton have missed the point made by “Clean Up” who mentioned empty sections, litter and dirty footpaths. What committee of councillors and businessmen will do this sort of clean-up? Anti-litter week featured the Mayor of the city helping a girl with one piece of paper, while television showed how his own garbage men spread rubbish in the wake of their refuse trucks. While this sort of thing goes on, what interest can citizens have in promoting an image they know is false?—Yours, etc., FIDE CONDITA. November 12, 1973.