WATER SUPPLY FOR LOWER HUTT

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 117, 11 February 1941, Page 10

WATER SUPPLY FOR LOWER HUTT

Conservation Urged

The necessity for conserving the sources of water supply in the district in view of its rapid expansion and the demand for further reticulation that would naturally arise, was urged by Cr. C. J. Ashton at last night’s meeting of the Lower Hutt City Council. Cr. Ashton considered that some policy of reafforestation was essential and suggested that a conference be held between the Hutt City Council, the Hutt River Board, and the Wellington City and Suburban Water Board, to discuss the matter.

When a suggestion was made that the council would be better advised to rejoin the water board, from which it had withdrawn as a protest against the proposal for a reservoir and pipe line scheme to serve the whole of Wellington, the mayor, Mr. Andrew’s, said that very definite offers had been made by the previous council and by the river board to rejoin the water board on any scheme for reafforestation, but no reply had been received. Under present-day conditions one welldirected bomb could destroy the whole supply. The scheme was also open to other dangers such as poisoning. It had also been condemned by engineers. “The problem is one of vested interests, ami 1 hope to light this matter on the public platform,” said Mr. Andrews. The last estimates showed that the cost of a pipe-line delivery of water would be 1/C>l for 1000 gallons. The present cost for water supply in Lower Hutt was 2d. for 1000 gallons. Air. 'Andrews added that he was not going to be stampeded into any proposal by vested interests. After further discussion it was agreed to defer the matter till the next meeting.