The Evening Star THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1923. THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 18331, 19 July 1923, Page 6

The Evening Star THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1923. THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

For once in a way the proceedings at last night’s meeting of the Dunedin Drainage Board were of vital importance. The Worlcs Committee reported that plans were in hand for tho replacement of the lower section of tho Wilkio road stormwater conduit, including tho outfall, this being tho first step towards the replace ment of the whole length of tliis particular conduit, the intake of which is near the Caversham tram terminus. Thanks chiefly to Mr Dove, this report was referred back to tho Works Committee by a majority of five votes to three. This action, if properly followed up, may prove tho first step towards putting the town’s drainage affairs on a better footing. Mr Dove’s reason for delay was that tho now conduit should load the water tho reverse way—into the ocean at St. Clair via tho Forbury road conduit instead of into tho harbor via “ Belcher’s Paddock.” This contention, taken by itself, it would be futile to discuss. Tho matter just at present is not tho nature or detail of the plans, but who should prepare them. ’ Messrs Hancock and Taverner went to tho root of the matter when they objected to the city engineer, on the eve of his retirement, preparing plans which a new engineer would have to carry out.

Tho City Council recently decided to invite applications for tho position of city engineer. It has been pointed out by newspaper correspondents that the salary offered—£Boo, rising to £I,OO0 —is not likely to attract the man Dunedin needs. Tho corporation could afford to pay more, and tho reasons why more is not being offered and why a schedule of duties has been drawn up to harmonise with the inadequate salary have already been hinted at by at least one of our correspondents. Yet there is a way out of the seeming impasse. If tho floods have taught the ratepayers one lesson, it surely is that Dunedin made a huge mistake in 1916, when tho City Corporation absorbed tho Drainage Board. In tho Dunedin newspapers of June 28, 1915, there are interesting reports of a meeting held the previous evening, described as ono at which the Drainage Board accepted its dismissal by granting tho terms under which St. Kilda, in conference with city councillors, had agreed not to oppose tho Bill to amalgamate the Drainage Board and tho City Council, At, that meeting Mr Arkle, on behalf of tho Drainage Board, declared that tho movement was political, the then mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. J. Clark), the town clerk, and Cr Green on the one side and the Mayor of St. Kilda and a councillor on tho other having concocted tho scheme without consulting the Drainage Board. Mr M'Kiunon, then a member of tho board, was even more to the point. He said tho then drainage engineer had reported altogether against tho terms to which tire above delegates had agreed, and he thought that the engineer’s report was worth more than tho opinion of any engineer in the country. Ho concluded by saying that “ the management of tho drainage work would be better in the hands of tho board.”

Subsequent events liavo justified Mr M'Kinnon’s foresight. In our opinion they v/exo largely contributed to by a do-

oision of the City Council some fourteen months later. At the board’s meeting on jjuno 27 it was evidently not contemplated what developments were In train, for Mr Hamel, on advocate of the amalgamation, said "he trusted that when the board went out the city would see that Mr Slinger did not go out too, because he was an engineer that they should do their utmost to retain. {Hear, hear.) ’’ This expectation was doomed to disappointment. Amalgamation spelt Mr Slinger’s dismissal on the plea of economy and completion of the work. The result has proved false economy; and, as to completion of the work, Mr Slinger, at the last board meeting before his retirement, reported on works urgently necessary for the disposal of storm-water, and warned members that, without those the scheme was anything but complete. This final report comprised a list of danger spots as the system then stood. It was noted by an official. It was considered so vital a matter that it was taken in camera, its very existence being deemed not good for public knowledge. A month or two ago, however, Nature reproduced it with startling fidelity, in unaccustomed and very expensive script, yet easy for even the unlettered to road. We invite —challenge, if necessary—the production now of this hitherto suppressed note of warning by Mr Slinger. There is particular justification for this request, because of a statement made last night by Mr Sincock. That gentleman, speaking of the Wilkie road storm-water conduit, is reported as saying: “Ho did not see how the Flat was going to be menaced if the sower was enlarged. Mr Sincock hold that Mr M'Curdio was not to blame for the inadequate) carrying capacity of the sewers, which had been constructed under the supervision of the late board’s engineer and the Harbor Board’s engineer.” Tills is most misleading. The Wilkio road conduit was constructed under tho late Mr Barr, we understand, over forty years ago. Ono of the first things Mr Slinger did after taking charge was to report on its inadequacy, and ho stressed this point at intervals to the very last. It is some years since Mr Slinger left the board’s service. Strong efforts were made to retain him.' At the City Council meeting of July 11, 1917, a motion by Mr Douglas affirming tho desirability of retaining his services was carried by 9-5, and referred to a committee. On August 8 a large deputation of citizens, headed by Mr Marlow, a former valued member of tho Drainage Board, waited on tho council to urge Mr Slingcr’s retention as drainage engineer, and suggesting that water supply be added to his duties. The deputation’s representations were referred to this committee, which, on August 22, recommended the council to retain Mr Slinger’s services ns drainage engineer and consulting engineer in other .branches of corporation work. Tho council held the matter over until August 29, and then rejected tho committee’s recommendation. Mr Slinger loft tho service, and we believe that thereby Dunedin suffered serious loss. Is it still too Into to try to minimise that loss and retrieve tho future? Soon after ho came to Dunedin Mr Slinger rescued tho drainage scheme from a dangerous crisis. Through disregard—and more—of his parting warning tho same may now be said of its present condition—i.e., critical. Mr Marlow’s suggestion of six years ago was extremely sound advice, and is equally sound today. Wo believe that it would be in the best interests of tho city if water supply and drainage were placed under ono control, and Mr Slinger were appointed as the engineer in charge of them. It is no new idea, as wo have shown, and wo believe feeling in its favor lias lately been greatly intensified. Such an appointment would obviate delay In putting urgent storm-water provision in hand, and would ensure its direction by a tried man who thoroughly grasps the problem. With these important matters severed from the duties of city engineer, the terms on which the City Council is now inviting applications for the latter post would hardly require other revision.