HARBOUR POLLUTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24826, 24 February 1944, Page 6

HARBOUR POLLUTION

TROUBLE AT ONEHUNGA ANTI-BATHING PATROL Pollution of the Manukau Harbour along the Oneliunga foreshore has become so bad in the past few days that the Borough Council has erected notices on its beaches and appointed a patrolman to warn would-be bathers against entering the water. The Mayor of Onehunga, Mr. J. Park, said yesterday that the pollution, which had been the subject of a report at Tuesday's meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board, undoubtedly was caused by trade wastes from the West-field industrial area. After an investigation the borough engineer had reported to him that it was not due in any way to the Onehunga sewerage system, which discharged only on the ebb tide and was functioning normally at present.

Mr. Park added that the appearance of floating matter suggested that fats were being discharged into the harbour. This was inexplicable, especially in wartime, when the saving of fats was vitally important. His council was communicating with the Health Department anil the Harbour Board, in the hope that one or the other would call a conference representing the Westfield industries and the local authorities concerned with a view to minimising the trouble until a thorough remedy could be provided by the proposed metropolitan drainage scheme.

X-RAY TECHNICIANS AWARD OF DIPLOMAS Two members of the Auckland Hospital X-ray staff, Miss Faith Hughes and Miss Shirley Senn, have been awarded diplomas in radiography and X-ray technology by the Melbourne Technical College. The course for the diploma was taken through the correspondence section of the college and the two candidates are the first members of the Auckland staff to hold the diploma. Until facilities were made available through correspondence, X-ray technicians had no means of taking an examination of this type in New Zealand, although a number have qualifications of an equal standard. The diploma has international recognition and enables holders to register in London as members of the Society of Radiographers.