WATER FOR AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 167, 16 July 1924, Page 8

WATER FOR AUCKLAND.

■■. i m " — CITY COTTNCII.'S RESOURCES. ; WILL MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS. That the water supply of Aucklwid canbe adequately catered for by the City Council is the view taken by that body and it is opposed to the formation of a water board which has been suggested by certain suburban local authorities. A special meeting of the council was held yesterday afternoon, concerning which the following statement was issued:— "The council is not in fa-vonr of a water board. The question has been fully considered in the past,, and again recently, in all its aspects, and has also been dealt with on behalf of the council by the Mayor, at successive public meetings of when the policy of the councfl 1 received endorsement. Under that -policy the council is pro-1 ceeding with its water development works. It is well to repeat it, so that no misunderstandings may arise. 2To phase of the question nor any aspect of the council's responsibility, either present or future, has been overlooked. The council is in a position to supply all the local authorities of the metropolitan area, and if those at present not drawing water from the City Corporation desire to do so, the council will undertake to supply them forthwith. "When circumstances necessitate it the council will develop a larger supply than the Waitakeres are capable of producing, but for many years the Waitakeres will provide a safe and sufficient supply at a reasonable cost. When the Auckland district has a very much larger population, and possesses greater financial resources, the City Corporation may, with the co-operation of provincial centres, such as Hamilton, develop a more distant and larger supply without increased cost to the consumers, but today, and for many years to come, as intimated, the Waitakeres, under the development policy of the council, which has been endorsed by the citizens, -will be more than sufficient for the requirements of the Auckland community. It follows, therefore, first, that no advantage whatever to the community as a whole can sccrue from a water board, and, secondly, the increased cost of any other sufficient alternative scheme is neither ' necessary nor financially practicable at present. "Auckland citizens may rest assured that in the matter of their water supply their interests are in safe keeping. If they had thought, or at any time may consider it otherwise, they have the remedy in their own hands."