CITY WATER SUPPLY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 11, 12 July 1912, Page 3

CITY WATER SUPPLY

TO BE EXTENDED TO PART j OF KARORI I SPECIAL BILL DEAFTED. WHO SHOULD TAKE OHAEGE IN THE HOUSE! A special Bill has been drafted by the City Solicitor, empowering the extension of the Wellington City water supply to that part of Karori draining into the Kaiwarra stream. It was recommended to the City Council last evening for adoption by the Legislation Committee, with a view to having it placed in charge of Mr. Herdman in Parliament. The title of the Bill was, "The Wellington and-Karari Sanitation and Water Supply Bill." Its purpose, set forth in the preamble, was to include within the jurisdiction of the Wellington City Council for water supply, drainage, sanitation, and other purposes, the Kaiwarra valley part of- Karon, and, also to enable the council to carry out water supply, drainage, and sanitation, works in and for the benefit of the area.. It was submitted that the land in the area specified could be drained with the least expense through the Wellington system. The draft pill gave full proI vision for the < exercise of powers and duties and the application of bylaws within that area, as if it were part of the city. For loan purposes the area would be deemed to be and form part of the City of Wellington. The drainage ; works within the area would be con- | structed in connection with the drainage system of the city being constructed for tne, .drainage of Wadestown and Northland^ ;, Councillor Atkinson explained that the purpose was to give the 'council proper powers of rating and control over thia outlying district. WHY WAS COUNCILLOR HINDMARSH OVERLOOKED! Councillor Tregear asked why Mr. Herdman was asked to take charge of the Bill. On the 9th July Mr. Herdman was not Attorney-General, and there was a member of . Parliament on the City Council Why was it 'not given to him! Councillor Atkinson explained that the matter referred to a district in whioh the two members cdncerned ■ were Messrs. Beli and Herdman, both of the same political colour. It .was purely immaterial which of these members undertook the promotion of the Bill, as it affected" both their constituencies. Councillor Fletcher moved that Mr. Herdmun's name be erased and Mr. Hindmarsh's bo substituted. It was a matter of courtesy to a councillor who was a member of Parliament. Councillor Barb«t seconded the mo Hon, and Councillor Fitzgerald further spoko in support of it. Councillor Fuller submitted that the council wanted a very experienced Parliamentarian to put the Bill through, and Mr. Herdman certainly was that. COUNCILLOR HINDMAESH SPEAKS. Councillor Hindmareh said he did believe the council should on principle, at least consult a councillor, who was also a member of Parliament, in regard to any Bill affecting the city to be brought before the House. The Mayor agreed with this. It was for the council, not the committee, to name the member of Parliament to take the charge of Bills. Councillor Fletcher : Has Mr. Herdman been asked? The Mayor : I believe so. Councillor Atkinson : Not by the committee. Councillor Hindmanh : When I heard about the Bill I rang up the Town Clerk, and asked if I was to take charge. NOT A PAETY QUESTION. The Mayor deprecated the ' introduction of politics into the Council Chamber. Who should take charge of a, Local Government Bill should not be made a party question. Councillor Tregear said that, now that Mr. Herdman had been -asked to take charge of the Bill, he would not press for any change. A QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE. Councillor Atkinson said the only urgency lay in getting the Bill advertised. There had been no urgency regarding who was to take charge of the Bill, and it wae not in the minds of the committee to anticipate the council in thie matter. He was very sorry indeed that Councillor Hindmareh should feel hurt; there had been nothing of that eort in their minds. He attached no weight whatever to the argument that Councillor Hindraarsh had insufficient Parliamentary experience to pet it through. The machinery regarding local Bills was ample for all new members, but there was an intense jealousy in regard to encroachment on another member's territory. If there ever wa» thjK eniToachment the tendency was to raise a cry of "Fire it out." All things being equal, the city councillor who was a member of Parliament should have the preference ,* but, in the present circumstances, as Mr. Herdman had been recommended by the committee to take charge of the Bill (and it would be as well to look at the matter from the standpoint, more or less, of a misunderstanding) the council could scarcely now go against that recommendation. Councillor Hifldmarsh urged that the clause be passed, now that Mr. Herdman had been asked to act. Councillor Fletcher withdrew his amending motion. The report recommending Ute BjJJ iiraa then, adopted*