SHORTAGE OF WATER

Evening Star, Issue 22896, 2 March 1938, Page 2

SHORTAGE OF WATER

GREEN ISLAND SUPPLY HANDICAP TO INDUSTRY " I think the time has come when the supply of water should be discussed,” remarked Cr T. Tomkins, chairman of the Water and Lighting Committee, at the monthly meeting of the Greea Island Borough . Council last night. “ We have been very long-suffering in the past as far as the water supply is concerned. We were led to believe that when the Deep Creek was brought ip all would be well. The state of affairs at present prevailing places the residents at a disadvantage, and local industries are severely handicapped. The New Zealand Refrigerating Co. Ltd, cannot receive sufficient water through l the mains, and is compelled to obtain it from the Dunedin City Council. The price charged is an outrageous one, and. not one to encourage local industry.”' The speaker went on to say that the people should be made aware of the facts. The council had been able to make a reasonably fair deal, and any step it took would receive the strong support of the residents. r When householders -put in a drainage system and! were then unable to use it, it was time \ something was done in the matter. “ I might be criticised for bringing the matter up in open meeting,” went on tho speaker, “ but the matter should be discussed and tbe council should protest very strongly.” The deputy-mayor (Cr Orange) said that the people of Green Island had been very long-suffering. There were six complaints regarding tbe water supply before them that night,/but it was safe to say that if all the complaintswere laid before the council there would be three or four times that number. The council had a duty to perform, and the ratepayers knew that the fault was not theirs, but the matter should have been rectified long ago. The matter was to be shortly, but under the present conditions a fire of any magnitude in the borough would present a serious problem. The matter was also referred to by the borough engineer (Mr E- J. Williams), who, in a report, stated:— The prcssure*Sof water during the daytime has been unsatisfactory and ia due to the consumption of water f for industrial purposes. New Zealand Refrigerating Co. Ltd. asked for permission to approach the Dunedin City Corporation for an adequate supply as an emergency measure. _ Its representation resulted in an additional Jin connection to the leading supply main be- , fore tbe Green Island supply is drawn off, and tbe charge is fixed at 2s per l.OOOgal. The amount _of additional water granted is disappointing, and the charge cannot be termed reasonable.Permission was granted by the borough for the work to proceed, as it was very urgent, and it was not considered that the arrangement would in any way prejudicially affect our supply. The price charged would he a detriment to obtaining any but very urgent supplies. The leading main has been tapped for a' Jin connection and immediately enlarged to 14in and attached to a meter the same size. This was then enlarged to a 3in pipe. The quantity of water that this arrangement is capable of supplying is approximately 34,000 gal in 24 hours. Services we,re repaired in Muir, Binnie, and Westland streets, and a stop-cook was renewed in Neill street. Some progress has been made in the negotiations of the adjacent boroughs and the Dunedin City Corporation in regard to the charge for bulk water supply. Due to the efforts of the Hon. F. Jones, a conference was arranged and resulted in the following tentative arrangements, which are required to be confirmed .by the borough' councils at an early date: —(1) No increase in charges to be made for the year ending March 31, 1938. The price to he paid for the year 1938-39 to be at the rate of 9d per l,ooogal measured by meter. (3) The question to be submitted to arbitration for a decision before March, 1939, for adjustment, inter alia: (a) Price, (b) quantity, (c) term of 'years. (4) The Bill to be permitted to proceed, subject to the arbitration clause and rate fixed for 1937-33 being preserved. It was decided that the chairman of the Water Committee and the borough! engineer wait on representatives of the City Council witli,a fiew to obtaining an increased pressure for the borough.