WATER DRAINAGE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 143, 21 June 1929, Page 3

WATER DRAINAGE

WHO SHOULD BEAR .COST!

Consideration was given at last night's meeting of the City Council/to the proposal that if property' owners contributed half" the cost,' the council would construct stormwater drains in connection with subdivision^.- 'The Works Committee recommended: ''That the culverting of a; stormwater drain ■at Campbell vstreet be 'approved provided the property owner' cbntributea half the cost of the work, the total cost of same being estimatedat £219." The wisdom of the council approving such a policy was criticised by the Mayor (Mr. G. A;; Trottp), who said the council was now entering upon- a policy that would involve extraordinary, expenditure if the ' proposal was accepted. The council was 'going to relieve land-owners of the cost of construction .of pipes to carry the. water away. He wanted, the chairman -ta take the clause back fjjr further consideration. : . ■ . ;:. Councillor W. H. Bennett thought the proposal w.as a just one. ; ■ ■■':'. ■'"•• ; ■■■'■•■■:' Councillor T. Korsyth considered'that an estimate of > tho cost -to- the 1 whole city, should be prepared. : - .' < Councillor ~W. J; Hildreth said that the; Works Committee ha"d considered every case. Improvement to the. districts and new streets formed by th« council had.'■ been-taken into consideration. The just method was, to consider every case on its merits.. ; : -, Councillor M. F. Luckie said under certain circumstances ; it; would be unfair to. make. one subdivision ■beftr the. cost of .culverting for- not only that subdivision but for,-other subdivisions behind it.- Provision'ought t^ be made so that- other- subdivisipn.s ' should bear portion of the: cost of the initial culverting. • ... . , . "Everything on its merits" was 'an. old and convenient cry, said the Mayor. In .making the recommendation he took it that the engineer' made it as a general rule, not as an exception. : Councillor .K. A. Wright, chairman" of the Works Committee, said that the city was now just beginning to feel tbie | result of,the.work in the past,.through drains .being too small to take the water. At Island Bay the whole of the stormwater drains had to be aupli- '■ cate'd.' Now the r engineer proposed 'to' put down drains to carry all the'stormwater of the future., The question waa.. should this, man bear the whole .cost," or should those who followed bear, some cost. ' , '. "". ; . . ,'-■..' Finally 'the. clause, and three similar clauses, .were referred back ,tb thf Works Committee. ' ■.'•■'■. '.'•"