RETICULATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 280, 25 November 1937, Page 16

RETICULATION.

CONTROL QUESTION.

METROPOLITAN DRAINAGE.

INQUIRY COMPLETED

The reasons why local bodies should retain the sewerage reticulation in their own districts were, given by Mr. J. Tyler, city engineer, at the sitting of the Auckland Drainage Commission which was concluded this morning.

The chairman thanked everyone who had assisted the commission, and commented upon the careful and comprehensive way that the various statements had been put forward. He said that everyone had been most helpful, and the commissioners' task had been materially lightened.

The work of. the commission is to define the boundaries of tlie proposed Auckland metropolitan drainage district. The members are Sir Francis Frazer (chairman), the Undet- Secretary of Internal Affairs, Mr. .). W. Huenan, and the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt.

Mr. J. Stanton is appearing for the Auckland City and Suburban Drainage Board, Mr , . A. H. Johnstone, K.C, for the Auckland City Council, Messrs. K. P. Towle and A. K R. Keith for the Mount Wellington Road Board and a number of large ratepayers. Messrs. A. K. North and H. J. Butler for three fertiliser companies in the area, Mr. R. McYeugh for the Waitemata County Council, and Mr. J. G. Haddow for the New Lynn Borough Council.

Mr. Tyler said that the burden of the scheme would he borne largely by the city, and the.method of assessment was as simple and equitable as could be conceived at present, even although it would result in the council being responsible for some two-thirds of the cost. The suggestion that the Auckland and Suburban Draiuage Board should, as part of its activities, provide reticulation sewers, wherever required, was not regarded as equitable to such district* that had to a greet extent completed their reticulation. It did not appear equitable that the city, which had reticulated the greater portion of its area, should be called on to pay some two-thirds of the cost of the reticulation of an outside district where it had no jurisdiction. Tn the past local bodies had proceeded with reticulation according to their financial ability. To alienate drainage from the plumbing branch of a local body would result in duplication of inspection, and tlii* would not be in the "beat interests of tlje public generally. Net Parallel. Mr. Tyler contended that it was not a parallel case to liken sewer reticulation to electric-power reticulation, as the latter was a revenue-producing project. It was generally conceded that amalgamation of local bodies was desirable, and fn the many "districts had l«een glad to join the city to obtain the amenities of the city standards. If reticulation were carried out by another body at an insignificant cost, then one of the incentives to amalgamation was lost. The Drainage Board had decided, after careful consideration, that the control of reticulation systems by the constituent authorities should continue, and the same view was held by the Auckland City Council and practically all the larger bodies in the Drainage Board district. The Auckland and Surburban Drainage Board bad operated satisfactorily over 2"> years without the control of the reticulation system, and no difficulties had arisen. The larger local bodies had expert stuffs to construct and maintain reticulation.

Mr. Tyfer expressed the opinion that there were too many authorities operating in the City with powers to onen the streets for the laying and maintaining of services. The provision of reticulation in districts at practically no cost to themselves would tend to retard the natural movement towards amalgamation, which was repogni.-od J's desirable within the area between the Tanmki and the Whan. Town Planning. From the town planning point of view the local body which planned, zoned and controlled subdivisions of land was the authority which could more conveniently plan for drainage reticulation, he added.

Mr. Arthur Rosser, chairman of the works committee of the Auckland City Council, said that the taking of the outfall from Orakei to Brown's Island was the best solution that c<mid be arrived at. He supported the statements made by Mr. Tyler. The City Council strenuously supported each local body retaining its system of reticulation, but there should be standardised by-laws. The city had lost control of trams and lighting, arid now there was a danger of losing control of their streets.