SCHOOL WATER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 209, 4 September 1935, Page 9

SCHOOL WATER.

LOCAL BODY'S THREAT.

EDUCATION BOARD DISCUSSION

Drawing attention to a recently published report that an Auckland suburban local body had threatened to cut off the ■water supply of a school in its district unices arrears of water rates were paid, Mr. G. E. Spooner pointed out at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board this morning that while the City Council supplied water free to schools, suburban schools had to buy their water. That meant that they had to pay from £12 to £20 a year out of the same capital allowance that city schools, free of that liability, received. Schools in country towns also had to pay for their water," though country schools had tanks. The chairman, Mr. T. U. WelU, remarked that some of the local bodies outside the city supplied water free to schools. He did not see what the board could do about it. "Could we not install tanks at schools that have to pay for the water?" asked Mr. S. B. Sime.

"It would be a tremendous undertaking to install tanks in schools, where there are 200 or more children," remarked Mr. Wells.

"Tanks would at least lessen the amount of water that had to be paid for," said Mr. Sims.

"Local bodies cannot legally cut off the water supply from schools, but they can proceed against school committees for water rates," declared Mr. W. .T. Bowyer. "Most of the local bodies are very fair, but they themselves are often very deeply involved in water supply undertakings." It was decided to take no action.