WATER " WAR."

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 301, 21 December 1939, Page 10

WATER " WAR."

SEASIDE BOROUGHS.

TAKAPUNA NOT SATISFIED. "IT IS FILTHY SOUP." Allegations of "eye wash" and meanness on the part of the Devonport Borough Council were made by the Mayor of Takapuna, Mr. J. Guiniven, at a meeting of iiis council last evening, when the Lake Pupuke water supply was under discussion. In a letter the Devonport Borough Council advised that it had given careful consideration to the Takapuna council's representations, but pointed out that the question of pressures had been investigated by the borough engineer and a consulting engineer when exhaustive tests of pressures had been taken. These tests, the letter stated, had proved that the difficulty in the matter of water pressures in portion of Takapuna was due to the system or reticulation and the methods used in connecting to the existing mains. The remedy was in the hands of Takapuna. "This council is satisfied that the necessary volume and pressure of water is available in its supply mains, and it regrets, that it cannot accede to your council's requests for increased pressures of the higher levels in your borough unless action is taken by your council to improve its reticulation mains," the letter continued. "111 the matter of future water supplies the council is awaiting the report of the experts who were appointed by the North Shore Borough (Auckland) Water Board to advise on the subject." "The Lie Direct." The Mayor (Mr. Guiniven) : Well, gentlemen, our foreman of works, Mr. W. E. Jones, can give the lie direct to that statement. Mr. Jones obtained the necessary scientific apparatus from the Auckland City Council and he is satisfied the pressure has not been maintained at the point of delivery. The whole trouble is due to Devonport's meanness in not paying for the power to keep two pumps going. They only keep one pump working. It is only "eye wash" about the experts. I am told that the Devonport people met the other night and decided they would not pay their water rates unless a supply was obtained from the city. We should be getting good, pure water instead of "the filthy soup" we get from Devonport. It is dirty, filthy slime and the water is affecting the health of the people.

Two other councillors agreed with the Mayor that with Devonport it was a matter of pounds, shillings and pence and that Devonport was "too mean" to run a second pump. Christmas Publicity. Mr. G. F. Gibson complained that there was far too much publicity in the newspapers about the water from Lake Pupuke. "It's a funny thing it always appears r<jund about Christmas time," he added. "I feel sure it is being done for political propaganda. It is bad for this iborough and bad for business. The water in Lake Pupuke is all right." The Mayor: It is not. We did not bring this matter up. It was first brought up by Councillor Aldridge in the Devonport Council. It is the weeds in the lake that are the trouble.

Another councillor alleged that Devonport s reservoir had not been cleaned out for nine years. Mr. R. White said he was inclined to agree with Mr. Gibson. "I will admit that there are some grounds for complaint about the quality and quantity of the water, but I do not think it is dangerous to health. This year this borough has been free of infectious diseases. I will admit the water does not taste very nice, but it is good water and does not harm one." Mr. Guiniven: Most of the complaints come from your district, Bayswater, so you are on your own. I've been all over the world in my time and I've never known any other place that has as many doctors to the square mile as Takapuna. Disagreement. After further discussion it was decided to reply to the Devonport Borough Council disagreeing with the opinion expressed in its letter and informing the council that it had carried out its own investigation and was satisfied its reticulation was adequate to deliver water to all parts of the borough, providing the pressure and volume of the water was maintained by the Devonport Borough Council at the point of supply.

It. was further decided to convene a public meeting of Devonport ratepayers to consider the water question and to deputation to the Devonport A further resolution was carried requesting the repeal of sections 64 and f.' of the Health Act, which exempts Lake Pupuke from control by the medical officer of health.