LAKE PUPUKE LANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 228, 26 September 1931, Page 10

LAKE PUPUKE LANDS.

WATER SUPPLY SAFEGUARDS.

BOARD TAKES ACTION.

TAKAPTTNA COUNCIL OPPOSED.

The dispute regarding building 'on the land surrounding Lake Pupuke advanced a stage further yesterday, when a meeting of ' the North Shore Water Board, was held. Recently the Takapuna Borough Council lifted the ban on. building, .but yesterday's meeting decided to take legal-action to prevent the' council from giving effect to • its resolution.

The conference was held at the office of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. 0. N. Campbell. The commissioner was present, as was also Dr. Herbert Chesson, medical officer of health for' North Auckland.

The Mayor of Takapuna, Mr., J. Guiniven, said the decision of his council was the outcome of the fact that it was compelled to lose rate .revenue on lands in the lake basin. It had been suggested that the other boroughs should contribute their fair share to compensate Takapuna for its loss, but they had declined to help, and Takapuna continued to lose revenue in order that the other local bodies might benefit. Dr. Chesson said the Health Department had never deviated from its determination to safeguard the purity of the lake water supply, and it was necessary, some years ago, to impose restrictions on building in the watershed. In the opinion of the Department the control of the water supply was primarily one for the North Shore Water Boaard, and not for Takapuna. It was the general opinion of North Shore residents that the lake area should have originally been proclaimed a water reserve, and if that had been done, Takapuna could never have received rates from the land.

"Takapuna appears to be cutting off its nose to spite its face," said Dr. Chesson. "It is lifting the ban when all authorities on _ water supply the world over are unanimous that a watershed should be protected. Here yo.: have a lake, the water of which is of excellent quality. It is the duty of all authorities concerned to protect this l«npply, and I tell you .candidly that the I North. Shore Water Board is to blame

to a large extent for the trouble for not putting through its by-laws and obtaining the power of protection."

Replying to Mr., Guiniven the clerk to the board, Mr. A. E. Wilson, said the power to restrict building operations would be under the Building Restriction By-laws. Dr. »Chesson added that the board had power to put practically any restriction it chose on the area.

Mr. E. H.. Little, Deputy-Mayor of Devonport, said if the board had power to protect the lake it should most certainly use it. "It looks to'me," said Mr. Little, " as if Mr. Guiniven is putting up a bluff." He thought the board should unanimously prohibit Takapuna's proposed action, as the public health must be the first consideration."

"I can assure you there is no bluff about it," said Mr. Guiniven." "We have the best legal advice, although I am naturally not prepared to divulge it at this juncture. The only way I can see out. of the difficulty is to induce the local bodies concerned to do the fair thing by paying their proportions of the £1500 loss in rates which Takapuna has to suffer."

"A Law Unto Itself." Mr. H. F. ,W., Meikle, Mayor of Devonport, remarked that Takapuna, appeared to be a law unto itself, and seemed to think that it could defy all. New Zealand.

Mr. R Martin Mayor of = Northcote, said he did not think there would be a great demand for permits to build when the heavy penalties for pollution became known.

Mr. J. P. McPhail, Mayor of Birkenhead, said he did not think the board need be greatly concerned about the legal advice obtained by Takapuna.

The matter was finalised when a resolution was passed instructing the board's solicitor, to take any steps considered fit to prevent the erection of buildings in the area, in the event of building permits being granted. Mr. Guiniven asked that his objection be recorded. He also recorded his objection against the motion that the completion of the by-laws should be expedited, explaining that he did so on the ground of unnecessary expenditure.