Caffell: Let public speak on fluoride

Masterton District councillor Gary Caffell is challenging the council's approach to the fluoride issue.

Mr Caffell said it was important not to "brush aside" those against fluoride without examining the facts.

"When the anti-fluoride people start throwing things around like cancer, while I remain unconvinced by that, we have to listen and this is an issue which the community has to have a say in," he said.

He would like the community to have the opportunity to decide whether there is a need for a referendum.

"As individual councillors, we don't have the knowledge for us to make that decision.

"[We] should not decide how far we take this without consulting the general populace.

"What I really want to know is what the community think, whether the community think, it's important enough to hold a referendum," Mr Caffell said.

He is calling for the council to set up a public debate between the anti- and pro-fluoride sides, the response to dictate whether a referendum needs to be held.

"The case for and against fluoride is very complicated for the ordinary layperson.

"I've always felt that perhaps we are not listening as hard as we should be, and we need to get the two sides together and hear them discuss this."

If the debate proved a referendum was necessary, Mr Caffell suggested one could be held in conjunction with the local body elections in October.

He said he had yet to be convinced fluoride was causing major problems for Masterton residents, but he was "willing to be convinced".