ARTESIAN WATER SUITLIES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27128, 26 August 1953, Page 10

ARTESIAN WATER SUITLIES

POWERS FOR LOCAL •BODIES MINISTER’S EXPLANATION OF BILL (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 25. The demand for underground water in certain are_s was affecting the water table, said the Minister of Works (Mr W. S. Goosman), in the House 'of Representatives this afternoon, moving the second reading of the Underground Water Bill. This was so, he believed, in Otago, the Hutt Valley, and Hawke’s Bay, and at Christchurch and Palmerston North. The bill, he said, was designed to,enable local bodies to cofatrol the use of this water if they desired. They would alsu be given power to prevent pollution, which had occurred in some places where bores had been sunk to carry drainage. The bill would protect the rights of those using the water today. He added that rights were useless where someone else by operations in an adjacent arqa cut off supply. The Minister said it was proposed to refer the measure to a committee of the House after the second reading, so that representations by those interested could be made. Mr H. Dudfield (Government. Gisborne) said he had some misgivings about the bill, which would cause a storm of controversy in. some areas. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. A. Bodkin) said that no householder nor farmer need worry that his rights

were to be interfered with. Only where there was the likelihood of an abnormal drain off would the measure apply. Mr Goosman, in reply, said the measure would be required only in certain areas, but as the population increased and industry developed, so would the provisions require wider application. The bill was given a second reading and referred to the Local Bills Committee.