MUNICIPAL COMMITTEES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19896, 15 March 1928, Page 8

MUNICIPAL COMMITTEES.

The advisability of appointing a special committee to control the whole water supply operations of the City Council was informally discussed at yesterday's meeting of the committee which at present carries the disparate responsibilities of controlling the distribution of water and superintending the operations of the tramways. This committee is the target for all protests against inadequacy of water supplies,.though there is sufficient evidence that the real fault lies with the Works Committee, which has failed to expedite the construction of additional storage reservoirs, even to the point of ignoring recommendations and appeals from the Water Committee. If the division of responsibility is sound, it would be consistent to transfer control of new tramway construction to the Works Committee, so that the only functions of the Tramways and Water Committee would bo administrative, and to act as a buffer against public criticism. The present arrangement is manifestly anomalous, especially as the provision for coordination between the two committees is imperfect. That is evident from the continued delay in v finishing the Waitakere dam, which should have been ready to store the spring rainfall, and in starting double shifts in the Huia Valley, which the Water Committee recommended three or four months ago. In the course of yesterday's discussion, there were suggestions that, the committee should not criticise another committee and that any reorganisation might be deferred until a new council is in office. Public dissatisfaction will, however, not be appeased by such concessions to the feelings of the committee's col- ! leagues in the council. It has been aroused by the demonstration of delay and neglect in prosecuting essential works, and with the knowledge that large schemes are in hand and in prospect that must be completed with the utmost punctuality unless water supplies are to be continually in arrears of actual needs, the public will expect the council immediately to give serious attention to this matter. Its record iB not so i inspiring that it can afford deliberately to delegate any of its responsibilities to its successors*