SPRING CLEANING.

Northern Advocate, 19 October 1920, Page 2

SPRING CLEANING.

We ventured recently to suggest that Whangarei should go in for something in the nature of a spring cleaning, which should include a vigorous "swat that fly" campaign. This 'week, so far as it has, gone, has not been of a nature to encourage the fly nuisance, Mr Wragge having sent along a chilly disturbance that has cooled the air very effectually. But we had a taste of early summer wfcirmth last week, and anyone who was about the town on Saturday must have noticed that flics were numerous and troublesome. If a duy or two of warmish weather can produce such quantities of flies .as were to be seen on Saturday it is obvious that when the really waittn weather sets in what is at present do more than an annoying pest will become a plague, unless an effort is made to cope with it. The task of keeping the fly within reasonable bounds is not tremendously difficult. By the use of many simple devices it is .possible <to kill large number's -of flies, and it is perhaps even easier to discourage them. Their chief desire is for favourable breeding-places —rubbish heaps, dirty corners, uncovered refuse pits, and so on, The ideal preventive method is, of course, to remove and burn all refuse and .garbage, Jbuit if burning is impo'sisMe something can be done by burying rubbish in deep holes and keeping the surface sprayed with kerosene or sheep dip. The burial of rubbish is not, however, altogether satisfactory, especially in towns where back gardens are not of large area. : Every household has to get'rid of tins, tea leaves, peelings, iashee and other waste material, and its burial is ft burdensome business. The municipality certainly should come to the aid of the householders .in this matter, maintaining a regular rubibish removal service. This question was discussed by the Whangaroi Borough Council some weeks ago and certain steps were taken with a view to the formulation of a scheme, but so far the Council has not dealt finally .with the subject. -We hope that it will not delay longer, but will take the earliest opportunity of initiating a proper system, capable of serving eveiy house and every business place in # the borough. Once this is available the municipality will be in. a position to compel residents to observe the necessary rules of cleanliness, which should 'apply to unoccupied sections as well .as to those that are built on. There is some very disreputable idle land within the borough—land where filth and waste easily accumulates and flies are bred in nullion.s A thorough spring cleaning would prevent it endangering the health of the community during the

summer months.