A WHALE OF A PROBLEM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15747, 11 February 1922, Page 11

A WHALE OF A PROBLEM

PERPLEXES WELLINGTON AUTHORITIES. fFrora Our Parliamentary Reporter.! WELLINGTON, this day. Several days ago a dead whale was stranded on the beach at Paremata, near Wellington, and made its presence felt in the atmosphere so cifeclively that questions began to be asked in Parliament. At; Jirst it was amusing, even the member for the district, Mr. W. 11. Field, joining in the laugh, as it was discovered one department after another disclaimed responsibility, ami the local authority declined to act because! it; was outside its boundary, being below high-water mark. To-day, however,' Mr. Field asked earnestly what was being done to remove the offensive carcase. Someone jocularly suggested that through the high smell the Main Trunk railway traffic would soon be stopped. The Minister for Internal Affairs declared that, this famous whale was regarded with alarm and disgust by the Health Department, but it excited great iuterest. in Governmental scientific circles, as it turned out to be a new species, and they were desirous of preserving its skeleton, while the Marino Department wanted to tow it to sea and lose it. The museum authorities were arranging with a. whaling expert to utilise the carcase and preserve the skeleton, thus satisfying both sides. Mr. Mitchell suggested in the meantime an issue of gas marks for residents in tho locality.