WAIKATO PROJECT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 253, 26 October 1933, Page 5

WAIKATO PROJECT.

DEVONPOH.T COUNCIL VIEWS. Interest in the investigations into the proposal to secure water from the Waikato was shown by the Devonport Borough Council last evening. The Mayor, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, -was appointed a delegate to confer with, the committee of local bodies interested in the Waikato water supply. An invitation had been received in a letter signed by Mr. Wilson, town clerk of Newmarket, who is secretary of the committee. It was not considered that the delegate should commit the council to any policy. "I think that much good might come from an examination of the scheme," said the Mayor. "The Auckland City Council has a monopoly at present of any alternative supply for the North Shore boroughs. The city's water supply is over-capitalised. A company such, as this one, starting off, should be able to supply very much more cheaply. We should I support the committee, as it would consider the only concern offering a price competitive with the City Council, and we should probably get water for ,3d cheaper than from the city." Mr. A. W. D. Meiklejohn and Mr. G. E. Harnett also considered that the council should support the Waikato scheme. A supply from the Waikato would also assist the farmers on the plains. Objection to the scheme was raised by Mr. E. Aldridge. He said that the company would lay its mains, not for the farmers, but through 1 the centres of population en route, in order to reach a maximum market. It would not be economic to have two water mains running side'by side in competition -with each other, as would be the case if only a proportion of the local bodies bought from the Waikato. "I object to being made a catspaw for the benefit of a commercial concern," he said. The motion appointing the Mayor as delegate was carried. It was pointed out that there was no need to commit the council, but some enlightenment would be gained from observations at a meeting of the committee.