ARTESIAN WATER

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 81, 6 April 1933, Page 7

ARTESIAN WATER

QUESTION OF CONTROL

HUTT VALLEY PROPOSAL

Assistance in having a clause inserted in the Municipal Corporations Act giving local bodies the first right to use, up to the quantity required, artesian water | within their own districts, was sought by the Petone Borough Council in a letter which was considered at last night's meeting of the Hutt River Board. Mr. W. T. Strand said he quite agreed with the idea of local bodies having the right to secure their own requirements, but he wished to draw attention to two points. The, first was that it would not be right for a body to have the full say as-to what were its requirements. A local body might "sit oa a supply" which it did not need while a neighbouring body went without. The second-point was that where, as in'the Hutt Valley, several local bodies united, one body might sink wells just within its own district and rob the adjoining district of its water. The difficulty which had arisen on Gear Island was a case in p.oint. Petone desired to control its supply, hut next door was Gear1 Island, which was in the Hutt County, and it was quite competent for the Hutt County to give the Wellington City power to take the water. Mr. Strand said he favoured a comprehensive scheme, and so far as the Hutt Valley was concerned a board should be given control of the artesian water. He moved: "That the Hutt River Board is prepared_ to support the Petone Borough Council in securing legislation for a comprehensive scheme for placing the control of the -artesian water in the Hutt Valley under a board composed of representatives .from the whole of the Hutt Valley Authorities." : The motion was carried.