Fletchers to face charge of pollution

Press, 7 August 1976, Page 4

Fletchers to face charge of pollution

The Christchurch Drainage Board has decided to prosecute Fletcher Plyco, which runs the Riccarton plywood factory, for allegedly polluting the Avon River last week with a discharge of wax emulsion. The Drainage Board’s assistant engineer (Mr P. J. Hunt) said yesterday that the decision was the result of an assessment of the evidence against the firm.

“We have decided this is a case that should be decided by the court,” he said. Mr Hunt said that a milky substance which dis-, coloured the river for several miles on July 27 had been traced to a drain at Mandeville Street, Riccarton. The wax was pouring into an open stream which joined the Avon in Hagley Park. The decision to prosecute was reached late on Thursday, according to Mr Hunt, and the firm was told about it yesterday morning. However, the plant manager of Fletcher Plyco (Mr R. Collings) said later in the morning that he had received no such information.

“I received a message that prosecution was possible,” said Mr Collings. Steps had been taken to correct the fault that led to the pollution, he said, and the Drainage Board would be notified of the improvements.