WHY NOT NOW?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 258, 1 November 1933, Page 11

WHY NOT NOW?

DRAINAGE SCHEME. TO END HARBOUR POLLUTION. PROVISION OF EMPLOYMENT. A proposal designed to remove the nuisance of pollution of both the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours and also to help solve the unemployment problem was brought before the Auckland Harbour Board by Mr. S. Vella yesterday afternoon. The board unanimously decided to support the proposal. To introduce the matter Mr. Vella moved that: "In view of the serious pollution of both the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours and beaches by the release of crude sewage therein, this board urges the Auckland Suburban Drainage Board immediately to proceed with the major drainage scheme as drawn up by Mr. Watkins and tentatively adopted by a representative conference of local bodies concerned. Further, that a copy of the above resolution be forwarded to the 19 local bodies concerned asking them to support the Harbour Board's request for the immediate commencement of the work on the following grounds: (a) The acknowledged ultimate necessity for the undertaking; (b) the present favourable condition of the labour and money markets." "Never More Opportune." Mr. Vella said that in perusing documents and reports he had found that the Havbour Board had been very seriously concerned during the past few years about the unsatisfactory disposal of sewage from the metropolitan area. From' time to time the board had taken the matter up with the drainage authorities, who had gone exhaustively into the matter. Their engineer, Mr. Watkins, had brought down a comprehensive scheme that was recognised and had been adopted tentatively as a satisfactory solution of Auckland's drainage problem for all time. Nothing, however, had been, done and Auckland 6till suffered from a very objectionable method of sewage disposal In its harbours. Mr. Watkins had stated recently that no doubt the present time would be considered inopportune to proceed with any of the constructional works proposed, but Mr. Vella contended that never was the time more opportune than now. Never could the work be done more cheaply and never probably would money be cheaper. A third and important consideration was that the unemployment problem in Auckland would be completely solved for the next few years.

Employment Possibilities. Enlarging on his tliird contention, Mr. Vella pointed out that in round figures approximately £10,000 was being spent in the relief of unemployed in Auckland each week", and it was recognised by those conversant with the matter that only 10 per cent of that amount wa« spent efficiently on useful permanent work. There were roughly 7000 on relief works in Auckland and the whole of that number could be employed, directly or indirectly, at reasonable rates of pay on the undertaking for the next few years. The logical thing for the Unemployment Board to do would be to pay over the bulk of the £10,000 per week which was at present being practically wasted to the drainage board, which could subsidise the amount from loan moneys. The fact that the whole of the labour and materials necessary for the work was produced in the Auckland provincial district made the proposition ideal from the point of view of absorbing labour. It might be said that the abolition of unemployment was not the direct concern of the board, but it had to be admitted that the immediate cessation of the use of the harbours for the disposal of sewage was a vital concern of the board, and pressure should be exerted on the drainage authorities to seize the present very favourable opportunity offering. As the proposal was the direct concern of 19 local bodies and would be administered by a metropolitan drainage board, and as it would benefit nearly a fifth of the population of New Zealand, it became almost a national concern—at least to the extent that it had a strong claim against the public funds that were being dissipated with very little permanent result on scheme 5.

Members' Approval. In conclusion, Mr. Vella that the proposal should be commended by the Harbour Board, because it would remove a long-standing complaint and menace to public health, by the many trades and occupations that would directly benefit in the supply of materials, etc., by all classes of business

which would profit by the increased amount of money in circulation, and by the taxpayer uecause of the fact that the work could never be carried out more cheaply than at present. The chairman, Mr. T. B. Clay, said that he felt the proposal would be welcomed by the whole community of Auckland. In seconding the motion, Mr. T. Bloodwortli said that it was quite appropriate that the board should be the body to propose the start of the work. Money raised' for the relief of unemployment should be used for schemes of that nature. The Unemployment Board, he thought, should pay interest on the money expended, for, he .would suggest, four years. If that were done the various local bodies would not hesitate. He would say that the proposal would give employment for 500 men. Mr. Vella: Five thousand was the figure given me by an engineer. ilr. Bloodwortli said that he felt that prosperity would eventually return to Auckland, and when it did the people would demand that the work should be done. Now was the time to do it. Harbour Board's Powers.

Mr. E. R. Davis said he happened to be one of the unfortunate ones who lived on the fringe of the nuisance. Years ago he had said that there was a big ' danger of the harbour being turned into a cesspool, and his words had almost come true. The board, which was the body that should take the matter up, should be very linn in approaching the local bodies, as- it had the powers to rule that the ellluent should be made satisfactory. The only way to remedy the present system of disposal was to remove it. He suggested that the board should get an opinion from its solicitors as to whether it was right in its demands. The rate that would fall on the citizens would be comparatively small. The present nuisance was one that should be grappled with immediately. Mr. W. B. Darlow agreed that the proposal would serve the twofold purpose of cleansing the harbours and helping the relief of unemployment. The scheme would provide real men's work for those out of employment. It would increase the purchasing power and would help to bring prosperity back to the country. Mr. H. R. Mackenzie said that if possible the board wanted to meet prosperity and help it along. "We have power to compel local bodies to rectify this disgraceful thing which is occurring in our harbours to-day," he said. Action had been delayed for five or six years, and he thought the resolution should go forward in strong terms. Mr. J. Savegh asked if it was intended that the men on the job should get standard rates of pay. Mr. Vella: Reasonable rates of pay. When put to the meeting the motion was carried unanimously. I