A WATER BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 167, 16 July 1924, Page 4

A WATER BOARD.

Some months ago we raised the question of the establishment of a Water Board to control Greater Auckland's water supply. The Health Officer for the district, Dr. Hughes, has suggested that suburban local bodies should take this course, but the suggestion has been promptly rejected by the principal party concerned in such a change, the City Council. Since Dr. Hughes' motive is concern for the public health he is satisfied with the Council's assurance that it can supply "all the local authorities of the metropolitan area," and apparently docs not mean to go on with his suggestion of a Board. The public health, however, though an important consideration, is not the only one. The position to-day is that the City Council supplies not only the city, but several outside districts, and there are other districts whose supplies are not in every way satisfactory. On tho one hand, there is the City Council, undertaking capital expenditure on behalf of other local bodies as well as its own people, but not able to make outside ratepayers equally responsible with its own for any loss that may be incurred. It also draws a profit from the sale of water to other bodies. On the other, there are the city's customers, compelled to buy water from the city, but with no say in the policy and administration that provide the supply. Beyond these arc districts that are not too well provided for now. and will, before long, require something better. To both seller and purchaser the position is unsatisfactory, and the case for a AVater Board is not disposed of by tluj Council's statement that it has considered the matter in all its bearings and means to retain its control. Suburban bodies, as present or prospective customers of the Council, surely have some say in this matter. And what is tho value of the Council's undertaking to supply the whole of the metropolitan area ? It looks like a new undertaking, for when in 1021 the City Engineer submitted his estimates of growth of population and water consumption he did not include the North Shore, boroughs. What has happened to make the Council certain that it can servo all this area? Was the experience of last summer renssuring? But the wider the area supplied by the Council the stronger the nrgument for a separate controlling authority. If the Council thinks that for an indefinite time to come local bodies from Tamaki to Takapuna and Birkenhead will be content to buy water from an authority on which they have no representation, and which, having a monopoly, may make any profit it chooses, we believe . the Council is mistaken.