WATER SUPPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 14, 17 January 1940, Page 9

WATER SUPPLY.

NORTH SHORE AGREEMENTS.

MOVE FOU CANCELLATION

Notice has boen given of a motion et the next meeting of the Devonport Borough Council with a view to the cancellation of the water agreements exieting between the boroughs.

Mr. Samuel S. (Ireen, who has given notice of the motion, writes to the "Star ,, as follows: —

"I happened to be away recently when a meeting called by Takapuna interests was held in Devonitort' to discuss North Shore water. Unfortunately my attitude to tho whole water question was wholly niieconcs trued and I was evidently the only Devonpbrt councillor selected for a personal attack. The North .Shore water is very unsatisfactory, to say the lcaet, an'd the securing of a pure and palatable supply is to my mind the most urgent busineee before the borough. Immediate action is essential. With that thought foremost in my mind I moved at tho last council meeting to secure a report from the engineer as to the cost of the work necessary. Imagine my surprise when Councillor Aldridge, on the pure technicality that I hud not given written notice, objected, and of coiiree standing orders could not be waived while there was one objector.

"In view of the repeated stateiuents that Takapuna wished to link up with tho city supply I have given not ire to move at next meeting with a view to tho cancellation of agreements existing between the boroughs, eo that Tnkapuiia may Ihj free to make whatever arrangements it deems iieeeuwury—not to cut off that borough's supply, an suggested. Judging by the attack on me, Takapuna does not appreciate that freedom, but on the contrary, desires to compel Devonport to link up with the city.

"Further, the Mayor of Takapuna fthould be the luet person to come and tell Dcvonport residents what they ehould do on the water question. He hn« been a member of the Water Board for years, and it would be interesting to know of the constructive proposals ho hee ever been responsible for, for purifying the water eupply. On the contrary, I challenge him to debate the following question before a Devonport audience: 'That the policy represented by John Giiiniven is responsible for the bad water supply in Devonport.' I will take the affirmative and should not have much difficulty in proving my case.

"To my mind, immediate purification of the present supply by filtration, pending the organisation of a Metropolitan Water Board, including the North Shore, and charged with the institution of a scheme utilising the resource* of the Waikato>.or Lake Tnupo offer the only solutions \o the problem."