REFUSE ON SHORE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 154, 27 March 1937, Page 4

REFUSE ON SHORE

“Beaches Must Not Be Spoiled” FISH HAWKER FINED “The amenities of our beaches must not be spoiled, and the residents must be protected from offences of this nature,” said Mr. W. F. Stilwell. S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, on Thursday during the hearing of two charges against Scipone Cotnparitti, an Island Bay fish-hawker, of leaving offensive matter on the Coreshore at Island Bay. Comparlni, who was represented by Mr. T. N. Foden, pleaded guilty to both charges. Mr. A. R. Cooper, who appeared for the Wellington City Council, said that at 6 a.m. on February 3 ami 4 Coniparini was seen by residents emptying a kerosene tiu of refuse into a pool which was covered at high tide. The refuse consisted of fish heads, backbones and tins and rabbit heads and paws. No intestines had been included. Comparlni had been spoken to by the caretaker in September last and another person had been prosecuted. Nearby was a bank of shingle upon which the refuse was washed by the tide. Children from nearby houses ran the risk of having fish-bones in their feet and the nuisance caused by the smell and the presence of flies was considerable. The offence was looked on as serious and an effective penalty was asked for.

Comparini was 74 and his wife, who was not in good health, was 68, stated Mr. Foden. He made about £2 a week by hawking fish, and his habit was to wash them in the pool. Sometimes small pieces of fish and perhaps a tin might be left in the pool. He was instructed that it was a common practice to dispose of refuse along the loreshore.

The magistrate said be would impose a penalty that would be a warning. Comparini would be fined £2/10/autl costs 10/- on each charge. Two charges of creating a nuisance on the foreshore were withdrawn.