CITY SEWAGE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 71, Issue 6144, 3 October 1945, Page 5

CITY SEWAGE

COMPOSTING OF RICH ORGANIC MANURE MR W. J. BROADFOOT, M.P., SUGGESTS VISITS. BY EXPERTS The composting of city sewage or refuse for the purpose of making available large supplies of rich organic manure for the primary industries was raised in the House of Representatives by Mr W. J. Broadfoot (National, Waitomo), who, in a'question suggested that before any further sewerage schemes were installed in the Dominion, the Government should invite Sir Albert Howard, of Great Britain, or Mr Van Vuren, of South Africa, to investigate the possibility of composting city sewage l . Many municipalities in Great- Britain and 101 cities, towns and villages in South Africa had'-already adopted the composting of their sewage and re 7 fuse, with excellent results. Replying, >the. Minister .of Agriculture (Mr.. Roberts) said her understood that a petition would be .presented on the question of sewage disposal, and when that was reported upon, the Government would determine whether it was necessary to secure advice from overseas.

Discussing the Minister’s reply, Mr Broadfoot said the matter was one of the greatest importance to. the country. The present methods of handling sewage and refuse were out of date. South Africa, by treating it under modern methods, conserved some quarter of a million tons of organic manure a year, and he thought that if New Zealand adopted similar methods it could save 200,000 tons. The idea of composting sewage and city-refuse was supported By many eminent men —for instance, by Mr Howard, who was off 3 of the greatest experts in soil conservation and modern agriculture. Manyt•farmers preferred organic manures to the artificial, and this was one method of getting ’or-j ganic manure to thenuMr Broadfoot said he wondered whew the prohibition against the use of blood and bone for drop dressing would be lifted. Many of the most successful farmers preferred it to superphosphate.