ARAPUNI LAKE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 108, 2 November 1929, Page 10

ARAPUNI LAKE

CONTROL OVER PUBLIC

Further amendments to the "Washing Up" Bill ivere introduced by Gov-ernor-General's Message in the House of Eepresentatives .to-day. In reply to the Leader of the Opposition (the Bight Hon. J. G. Coates), the Minister of Lands (the Hon. G. AY. Forbes) said, the principal amendment was for the purpose of giving the Minister of Public Works some control over the Jake which had been formed .at . Arapuni. The lake was at present used by the public, and the purpose of the amendment was to give the Minister power to keep people off the spill-ways and so on. ■ Mr. Coates asked if the legislation would in any way hamper the existing administrative rights of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society and local bodies. The Auckland Society had control over the fishing rights. Mr. Forbes said an agreement had been reached in regard to the provisions asked for. However, df there was any objection raised he would be willing to hold the- matter over, as he did not think it was particularly urgent. Some discussion took place on the clause, the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. E. A. Hansom) contending that, unless the Public Works Department was given power to prevent people from going on to the lake there might be a danger of persons being sucked into the by-pass tunnels in the event of it being found necessary to lower the waters of the lake. If the clause did not go through there might be a danger to the works. ' The Leader of the Opposition (the Eight Hon. J. G. Coates) contended that there was a need to safeguard the interests of the Auckland Acclimatisation' Society, which had entered into certain fishing rights on the tributaries of the Waikato Kiver. Fear w-as expressed by Mr. J. Bitchener (Reform, Waitaki) that the Public Works Department might want to take -.over the complete control of other lakes which were being formed in connection with hydro-electric schemes. He thought the local bodies interested should have some say i:>. .the control. It was going too'far to suggest that the public should not be allowed to use the lakes in any way at all. If a Minister of the Crown went to Arapuni on a hot day he might want to take a header into the lake, but if the clause were passed lie would not be able to do that. (Laughter.) After further discussion the Minister of Lands agreed to drop the clause..