AUCKLAND DRAINAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 239, 9 October 1935, Page 8

AUCKLAND DRAINAGE.

WESTERN SUBURBS' POSITION

"NOT FERMENTING OPPOSITION."

The statement that the conference of western suburbs to consider the comprehensive drainage scheme in the light of their own problems was merely to ferment opposition to the scheme was expressed by the convenor of the confcrepressed by the eoncenor of the conference, Mr. George Lawson, Mayor of New Lynn, this morning. Ho was replying to a statement made by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Ernest Davis, that he felt that "a more satisfactory method would bo direct conference with the Drainage Board."

Mr. Lawson said that the Mayor was apparently under a misapprehension regarding the purpose of the conference. Thero existed in the districts he was concerned with an organisation, the Western Suburbs Local Bodies' Association, of which he was chairman. Its purpose was to make provision for an exchange of views when the interests of the bodies concerned, New Lynn, Glen Eden, Henderson and Waitemata County Council, were identical. It was in accordance with Mr. Davis' wish that theso local bodies should find out where they stood in regard to the question. They would then be able to go along to the Drainage Board conference with a defined policy. The conference would be called for Wednesday, October 23. New Lynn's Position. "Wo have no desire to foment opposition to the scheme," said Mr. Lawson. "New Lynn's position is that at the present time our own scheme is undoubtedly the best sell me working in the metropolitan area. We cannot face any heavy capital charge at the present time, but we will eventually come into the comprehensive scheme provided it offers a permanent solution to the problem. We feel that the matter should be dealt with once and for all time, and thus we favour the Manukau North Head scheme." The scheme in operation at present at New Lynn was a most efficient one, he said. The -system had a capacity of 804,000 gallons a day, and so far it was used only to the extent of 75,000 gallons. Its septic tank discharged an effluent that was as ciear as water and its percentage of solids was down ,to .0001!). The system was so designed that it could take in Glen Eden, Henderson and Titirangi, discharging the effluent into the Manukau without question of nuisance. It was designed to last for another 25 years at least. No Attempt to Stampede. "I wish to emphasise that no attempt is being made to stampede anyone into anything, said Mr. Davis, discussing the matter. "The whole question is now being thoroughly ventilated, and all the bodies interested, both inside and outside the area, liavo the opportunity of bein<* fully apprised of all that is happening. Of course, if the local authorities in the western suburbs wish to confer on their own, that is entirely their own affair, but I feel I should point out that the mora satisfactory method, in my opinion at all events, is direct conference with the Drainage Board. At the same time, it must be obvious to everyone that the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board, although at present responsible for a. limited. 0 area only, is offering an opportunity which possibly will provide an adequate scheme for all the people resident on the isthmus, and, to my way of thinking, it would be a pity to lose that chance. I hope that when the sub-committee of the board presents its report on Monday night, the position may become clarified. Be that as it may, the incontrovertible fact remains that proper drainage is a vital essential service, a.nd one which means longevity to the population."