POLLUTION OF RIVERS

Southland Times, Issue 23208, 25 May 1937, Page 8

POLLUTION OF RIVERS

PREVENTIVE STEPS URGED “NOBODY’S BUSINESS” In New Zealand it seemed to be nobody’s business to prevent the pollution of rivers, said Mr James Robertson at the annual meeting of the Southland Acclimatization Society last evening. The only exceptions arose when a private person could prove damage and took private proceedings or when trout were killed and acclimatization societies took action. Mr Robertson gave the Mataura river as an example of the seriousness of river pollution. “It is common knowledge among anglers that two towns on its bank discharge the whole of their raw sewage directly into this stream,” he said. “The condition of affairs at the outlet of the sewers into the Mataura is a disgrace to any civilized community. The attention of the Health Department was drawn to this matter some years ago, but without result. The department pointed out that the percentage of solids in the sewage was such that the river could not be deemed polluted. I would suggest that if the official responsible was invited to drink the water he would alter his opinion. Surely as a matter of civic pride the municipalities concerned should go to the expense of installing a septic tank which would remove all cause for complaint. “Some dairy factories, saw mills and sheep dips and fellmongeries are also serious sources of pollution. During the years of the depression industries complained that the methods to combat pollution were too costly and would ruin the industry. It must be painted out, however, that certain factories do not pollute streams, while their competitors do,” he added. “In the older industrial countries pollution is the greatest enemy of the angler. Hundreds of streams in America and Britain which were excellent trout streams 50 years ago now contain not a single trout, because of pollution. This state of affairs arose from the indifference of the public and the matter has now become a national problem,” Mr Robertson- concluded. “River pollution boards and councils for river protection have been established, but the problem is so difficult and vested interests are so powerful that little has been done to improve matters.”