NEW METHOD?

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 7

NEW METHOD?

ELECTION OF BOARD.

TAKAPUNA SEEKS CHANGE.

WATER SUPPLY PROBLEM.

Convinced that this course is the most suitable means ~f solving the problem »f providing an adequate water eupply for the North Shore, the Takapunk Borough Council intends to prepare a local bill which will seek an important change in the constitution of the North Shore Water Board. The. bill will propose that members of the board «hall be the elected representatives of the people of the districts •micerned, instead of representatives of tile horough councils, as at present. "We ftliould also seek to have the powers of the board extended in euch " "ay that it can control the maintenance and distribution of the water Ripply in the same way as the Power Hoard controls the maintenance and distribution of thp ~1,-ctricity supply," «ai<l Mr. R. X. White at last nighY's meeting of the council, embodying this "iiggestlon in a motion that* the bill shoj.l,l In. prepared, which was carried without dissent. After it had been announced that the J'mWer of Internal Affairs, the Hon. Tv ry ' < " 0,,1<1 " ot a S re « t° the setting tip of a commission of inquiry into the question of the supply, the Mayor. .Mr. .l,»| in (iuiniven, opening the tliwiiwioii, remarked that the Department of Internal Affairs had advised hat if the situation could }>e improved I'.v an amendment to the legislation governing the Water Board the small amount of expense whi-li would be involved should not be regarded as an ol'stnde to that course. Hw took that as » «uggestion that it would be best to <*o ahead with the preparation of an amending bill. Mr. C. H. M. Wills suggested that the Hevonport and Xortl.cote Borough Councils should be neked if they wished to support the proposal. If they declined, rakapiina would be justified in going ahead with its own bill; if they agreed the councils could work together to set up an authority which would be charged with the duty of providing the North Mioi-p with an adequate suppli- of pure water. * The Mayor, however, said he would lather see Takapuna go on with its own lull—a democratic one which would <*ive the people an absolute right to elect their own representatives, instead of retaining 'the halfpie method we have got now." The council decided that it would merely advise th ( . Devonport Borough Council of its intentions.