WATER SUPPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1940, Page 13

WATER SUPPLY.

"NO LEGAL AGREEMENT/' TAKAPUXA MAYOR'S REPLY.

in reply to the statement of Mr. S. S. (ireen, a inein'ber of the Devonport Borough Council? that it is his intention to move for the cancellation of water agreements existing between Devonport and Takapuna, the Mayor of Takaptitin, Mr. J. Quitiiveh, asserts that "no such agreement exist*."

'"On May *», 19.17," writes Mr. Onlniveii to the "Star," as a result of dissatisfaction upon the part Of Takapuna with the exorbitant prfofe pharged for water, the Devonport Borough Council offered to redtMW the pride to I'Jd per 1000 gaJlon#, subject to reVkt at the end of three ytktt, on thtf understanding that three yearn' notice be 'given in the event of Takapuna. deciding to terminate the arrangement for supply. At Section StM of the Municipal CorpoMtkma Act 193:; forbid* a council to enter into a contract for a longef period than three years without a poll of the electors, it is obvious that euch an agreement Would be ultra viretf> I pointed this out at the meeting and also mentioned the matter to the Mayor of Devonport, but tl»o Takapuna CounCil was Hot so much concerned with the validity Of the suggested agreement as with & reduction from llid to ftjd.

"Considering 1 that no legal agreement is in existence, and that the Auckland City Council will not Supply T*k«|)UHA unless the othor borouglie agree to taktt city water, it is too late nOw for Mr. (Jrcen to say that lie did not intend to cut Takapuna out of the existing supply. If ho is no eager to abandon Die lake, why has ho hitherto failed to support Mr. Aldridge at the various meetings of the Devon|>ort Cbuncil? It took tho meeting held oil the 11th in Devonport, to wake him lip to his responsibilities.

"As regards iny policy on water supply, it has always been the same, ;.i and out of the Water Board, viz., to link up with the city supply, attd I do Mot know anything more feasible or better. Mr, Green thinks that the Installation of a filtration plant is tho remedy until 11 metropolitan board Id formed. How* ever, I endeavoured to induce Mr. Melk'cto install such a plant years ago, but aeveral thousands of pounds Was wastcid upon an aeration plant instead, which has proved worthless. Of what , us-j would it be to spend £7000 Ott filtration now that the lnke is diminishing a« a miter mipply ? The only sensible thing to do is to obtain water from the Wat* take res or quick as possible. So long as the City Council opposes the forma* tion of * Metropolitan Water Board it in uncles* to approach tho Government. I wns a member of a deputation that approached the Minister Mime time ago and returned without success. However, <]i'lny means nothing to Mr. Green, and at a time when North Shore resident me frantic ovur the shocking condition of tho water.

" I'ro m the foregoing statements t would bo merely a waste of time to debate tlid matter with Mr. Green. 1 will undertake to debate the Wairiiu and Waitdkere proposal* at the Hotunil!), Dmonport. at any time with Mr. Mfikle'x majority in the council for AVniruu, and that will include Mr. Green. I am certain of ft vtrdict In my favour."