NORTH SHORE WATER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 21, 25 January 1934, Page 6

NORTH SHORE WATER.

So many correspondents hare written on the above subject that little remains to be said. I feel, however, that the ridiculous statements made by Mr. Meikle, Mayor of Devonport, and chairman of the North Shore Water Board, in the face of so many complaints cannot be allowed to pass unchallenged. Even if he does not take much heed of the bitter letters of complaint and criticism he surely should know from the evidence supplied by his own household taps that the water is the very reverse of pure and odourless. The vile taste and stench are every bit as pronounced now as they were twelve months ago, and the installation of a so-called purification plant at a cost of approximately £6000 has made not the slightest improvement. Unfortunately in this part of the borough we have the additional annoyance of decidedly rusty water due to dirty mains, which, incidentally, may be partly responsible for the general bad condition of the water. In a recent circular dealing with the question of water supply the Devonport Borough Council calmly brushed every other scheme aside in favour of the lake supply, on the argument that the dost per thousand gallons would be 2/6 as against 1/9 if the filtration plant were installed. This plant is an absolute failure, despite the statements made to the contrary by certain members of the Water Board, and Devonport ratepayers should seriously consider following in Birkenhead's footsteps and obtaining a reliable supply from the city. It is far better to pay 2/6 for pure water than to pay 1/9 for a vile liquid, a& w6 are doing at present. Your correspondent "Pure Water First" has the right idea when he suggests that ratepayers should refuse to pay water rates until something is done to improve matters. CLARENCE STREET.