Pollution-watch plan

Press, 26 March 1980, Page 6

Pollution-watch plan

The Waimairi County Council should be told to “pull its weight” over a joint local-body scheme to reduce river pollution in Christchurch, said a member of the Christchurch Drainage Board, Mr M. J. Dobson, . last evening. He was commenting on a council decision not to contribute towards the payment of $2OO rewards for information leading to the conviction of anyone responsible for pollution. The Christchurch City Council supports the scheme

and the Heathcote County Council has agreed to meet the board to discuss the matter.

“I don’t see why the Waimairi County Council should play dog in the manger on this particular one,” Mr Dobson told the rest of the board. “Every measure should be taken to stop pollution in our rivers.”

The scheme also involves the appointment of honorary wardens to watch for pollution. The City Council has told the board that it will call for volunteers to become wardens and that it will send

letters to all residents whose properties border the rivers. After advice from the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Highet) the Waimairi council has told the board that only councils may appoint litter wardens and that only the board may bring prosecutions. The board will seek its own legal opinion on the issue of prosecutions. Another board member, Mr F. D. Leach, said employers and manufacturers’ associations should be asked to tell their members about the scheme.

“A lot of pollution occurs from these people,” he said.