TAKAPUNA DRAINAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20300, 6 July 1929, Page 14

TAKAPUNA DRAINAGE.

ENGINEER AND COUNCIL.

VIEWS OF HEALTH OFFICER. Expressing dissatisfaction with tlio attitude of the Takapuna Borough Council in its administration of the plumbing and drainage regulations laid down by the Health Department, the borough engineer, Mr. A. Slinger, about three weeks ago informed the council that he would not accept any responsibility for anything in connection with their administration, as he was not satisfied with a docision that the borough inspector should be held responsible in all matters connected with plumbing and drainage. Mr. Slinger's attitude has now been endorsed in correspondence which has passed between Dr. H. Chesson, medical officer of health in Auckland, and the Takapuna Borough Council.

At the meeting. of the council three weeks ago Mr. Slinger intimated that as tho council had decided to apportion the responsibility under tho regulations botween himself and another, ho could not agree with such divided control, since under tho regulations the engineer was held to bo in responsible control, and any transference of control was ultra vires. Tho regulations entailed statutory observance.

Dealing with the position which arose as a result of Mr. Slinger's protest, Dr. Chesson, in a long letter to tho council, stated that in the opinion of the Health Department in Auckland the interpretation placed by Mr. Slinger on the regulations was correct, and that he was not to be'eonsured, but, rather, commended on tho action he had taken in lodging a protest. It appeared that a number of local bodies viewed their responsibilities under tho regulations in a different light, resulting 111 a loss of the uniformity of administration of plumbing and drainage matters which the regulations aimed at. After tho receipt of tho letter from Dr. Chesson, tho Mayor of Takapuna, Mr. J W. Williamson, and Mr. J. W. Hayden, a member of the council, interviewed tho Minister of Health, the Hon. A. .J. Stall worthy, who stated ho would make a reply to their representations in time for tho next meeting of the council.