WATER BOARD PROPOSAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18762, 16 July 1924, Page 11

WATER BOARD PROPOSAL

OPPOSED BY CITY COUNCIL.

SUPPLY FOR ALL SUBURBS.

CITY RESOURCES AMPLE.

LARGER SCHEME TOO COSTLY.

The Auckland City Council is opposed to the formation of a Water Board, as proposed for the purpose of arranging for an adequate and pure supply of water for all the local authorities in the metropolitan area. Consideration of this project was prompted by the fact that several districts on the outskirts of Auckland City are dependent on sources of supply which leave much to be desired on the, question of purity, and threaten to be all too limited for almost immediate needs. It was assumed that, in the event of a Metropolitan Water Board being formed, this body would take over tfhe city water department's reservoirs and pipe-line.

A special meeting of the committee of the whole council was held yesterday, when the opportunity was taken to restate the council's policy in regard to water supply. The following statement was therefore prepared and authorised by the council:—

"The council is not in favour of a ! Water Board. The question has been fully considered in the past, and again recently, in all its aspeots, and has also been dealt with on behalf of the council by the Mayor at successive public meetings of citizens, when the policy of the council received endorsement. Under that policy the council is proceeding with its water development works. It is well to repeat it, so that no misunderstandings may arise. No phase of tho question nor any aspect of the council's responsibility, either present or future, has been overlooked. Tho council is in a position to supply all the local authorities of the metropolitan area, and if those at present not drawing water from the City Corporation desire to do so, the council will Undertake to supply them forthwith. "When circumstances necessitate it the council will develop a larger supply than the Waitakeres are capable of producing, but for many years the Waitakeres will provide a safe and sufficient supply at_ a reasonable cost. When the Auckland district has a very much larger population, and possesses greater financial resources, the City Corporation may, with the cooperation of provincial centres such as Hamilton, develop a more distant and larger supply without increased cost to the consumers, but to-day, and for many years to come, as intimated, . the Waitakeres, under the development policy of the council, which has been endorsed by the citizens, will be more than sufficient for the requirements ot the Auckland community. It follows, therefore, first, *hat no advantage whatever to the community as a whole can accrue from a Water Board, and, secondly, the increased cost of any other sufficient alternative scheme is neither necessary nor financially practicable at present. "Auckland citizens may rest assured that in the matter of their water supply their interests are in safe keeping. If they had thought, or at any time may consider it otherwise, they have the remedy In their own hands."