POLLUTED RIVERS
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
Bensusan's indictment in your last issue of the failure of local authorities and successive Governments to enforce the provisions of the Weeds and Seeds Order, and the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act of 1920, to the detriment of the land, has its counterpart in our rivers, where despite Acts of Parliament pollution is not prevented by certain local authori- ties ; but on the contrary, is actually caused by them, so much so thaesorne streams are officially described as " open Sewers." Once upon a time our rivers were more beautiful.
There may be, and I believe are, many virtues in our indi-
vidualism as compared with the other " isms " competing for favotir, but that should not cause us, ostrich-like, to shut our eyes to its failures. Rather should we ask ourselves by what means can such old deep-rooted anti-social and uneconomic abuses be remedied. If only by the exercise of greater adminis- trative control on the part of the Central Government, the problem still remains as to how can apathetic public opinion be aroused, in default of which the Government, with so many other major problems on its hands, is unlikely to move.
Perhaps the Under Thirty-ites, numbering some millions, one of whom seems to think it is a world " without enterprise, without courage, and without love," will, as young crusaders, step into the breach and end this sad state of affairs with week- end " rips " ; for service such as this is surely within their power to offer. In our copybook days we were taught that " where there's a will there's a way." This may be regarded as an antiquated maxim. But have we discovered an easier and happier way to accomplishment ? Though well over thirty, I wonder.—Yours faithfully,
Chalk Hill, Guildown, Guildford. J. W. KEMPSTER.
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