WATER SUPPLY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22613, 16 April 1948, Page 3

WATER SUPPLY

COAST TOWNSHIPS COMBINED DEPUTATION MINISTER TOLD OF NEEDS (S.R.) TE PUIA, April 15. Recent heavy rains have not dampened the enthusiasm of the committees set up in Tokomaru Bay and Ruatoria to explore the possibilities of a water supply for these Coast townships. This was apparent when representatives from these committees waited on Mr. D. W. Coleman. M.P., in Te Pula yesterday to place their case before the local member. Mr. D- W. Williams, chairman of the Waiapu County Council, presided. Other members of the council nresent were Messrs. O. T. Williams, V. G. H. Rickard, S. McCosh, S. Te Rapu, J. Oates and H. Dudfield. Shortage Every Summer

The chairman introduced Mr. Coleman and briefly explained the purpose of the meeting. Messrs. Rickard and E. Hamilton spoke on behalf of the Ruatoria people who were, interested in the water supply, outlining the proposed scheme and the estimated cost.

The case for Tokomaru Bay was presented by Messrs. Oates, N. G. Vickers, W. Sparks, and H. Dudfield. The arguments put forward by both deputations were similar in many respects. both townships being almost identical in population, Tokomaru Bay with a total of 1041 exceeding Ruatoria by only 37. It was estimated that there would be in the vicinity of 110 water connections required in each of these towns, whose Maori population was aporoximately 70 per cent, of the total.

In common with other committees on the Coast, they suffered acutely every summer from water shortage and because 0 f this intensive cultivation during the dry months was impossible. Financial Assistance Costs, too. of the proposed water schemes were somewhat similar, but due to the scattered nature of Tokomaru Bay the estimated cost of the supply for that settlement would be about one-third greater than the Ruatoria scheme. In both cases, enwhasised members of the deputation, it was annnrent that unless some form of assistance was forthcoming from the Government the people of these communities could not afford to meet the full cost of their respective schemes. It was because of this that the deputations were meeting Mr- Coleman in the hope that he might be able to obtain the assistance that was needed before these much-needed schemes could becomp a realitv “You don’t need to convince me about the need for good water supnfi’es on the Coast.” said Mr. Coleman. "I’ve been up and down this Coast for a good many years now and every summer the erv is for water. Some time ago I discussed the Ruatoria scheme with the Prime Minister. Mr. P. Fraser, who was most sympathetic, but at that time there was some comofication over the clash of two schemes there.

“Now that this difficulty has apparently been overcome,” concluded Mr. Coleman, “things appear much brighter and I will be only too pleased to give any assistance I can towards furthering the water supply for both Ruatoria and Tokomaru Bay.” Health Hazards During the afternoon the deputation waited on the Minister of Health. Miss Mabel Howard, and stressed the desirability of these water supplies from a public health point of view. They drew attention to the health hazards present in their communities which were as yet in the embryonic stage and consequently unable to bear the entire cost of a public water supply. They hoped that Miss Howard might be able to support Mr. Coleman in his endeavours to obtain some form of assistance. “Water supplies to back-country districts can only be taken on a national basis,” remarked Miss Howard in replying to the deputations. “Everywhere I go, whether it is in the South Island or the North Island, similar deputations to yours wait on me with similar problems. I cannot give you a definite promise for it is a question for the whole Government, but it does appear that some kind of aid is essential to assist these small townshins towards providing a decent water supply.”