Awanui Litter Deplored

Northern Advocate, 22 July 1938, Page 3

Awanui Litter Deplored

KAITAIA, This Day. Reporting to the Mangonui County Council, the sanitary inspector, Mr j. W. Parker, stated that paper-bags, newspapers, cellophane wrappings, sardine tins, cigarette packets, . fruit remains and peelings were just a few of the things with which Awanui was littered on a Sunday morning. It seemed, he said, as if most of the public looked upon the street as the natural dumping ground for any kind of rubbish. With no scavenging in operation, the rubbish remained from week to week and was in time tramped in to form a rotting mass. Some was blown away and some was washed to lower-lying sections. Behind the shops, in alleyways and backyards, rubbish was to be found of all descriptions, including rotting fruit and vegetables. Several shopkeepers, when warned about having accumulations of rubbish, stated that they had no means of disposing of it. Water was only a few inches below the ground level, sc they were not able to bury it. The only means they had was to take it along the road on trucks and dump it on the roadside when no one was looking. This explained, to some extent, the befouling of Ihe countryside by unsightly accumulations of litter. No Rubbish Dump. Under the Health Act, local authorities could make provision for the removal of refuse, etc., from premises and streets, continued Mr Parker. He had been given to understand that there was no defined site for the disposal of refuse in the county,, but with (he consent of tire Minister a site could be chosen. Soon‘it would be necessary to have a clean-up day in the township. The street and footpaths should be cleaned. Mr Parker added, by a street orderly at least once a week and litter boxes should be placed in convenient positions with notices placed over them. Drainage Problem. Referring to the Awanui drainage nuisance, Mr Parker stated that lie had discussed this matter with the county engineer, and until levels had been taken it would be difficult to suggest a remedy. Cr. F. Holder asked what was the position in Kaitaia. He knew that. Kaitaia was no credit to those looking after it. Cr. L. J. Matthews said he would support tile inspector in his effovK The Awanui citizens would, he felt sure, fall in with the suggestions made. The engineer was to report at the next meeting on the question c f a suitable site for rubbish and also the drainage of the township.