HEALTH ENDANGERED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20981, 18 September 1931, Page 10

HEALTH ENDANGERED.

LAKE PUPUKE BUILDINGS. CRITICISM OF COUNCIL. DR. H. CHESSON'S VIEWS. The action of the Takapunii Borough Council in deciding to permit buildings to be erected on land surrounding Lake Pupuke reservoir, contrary t.o restrictions previously imposed by the Department of Health, was adversely commented upon by Dr. 11. Chesson, medical officer of health for North Auckland, yesterday. Dr. Chesson said the lifting of the ban on building operations on the lake watershed came as a surprise, as he had not heard that such action was even contemplated. He was amazed that the council had been so blind to its own interests as to take a step which might prejudice the purity of the North Shore's only water supply. An assertion by the Mayor of Takapuna. Mr. J. Guiniven, that his council had been bluffed into abiding by the Health Department's decree was emphatically denied by Dr. Chesson. The restrictions of the department, he said, had been made iu. order to safeguard the health of the residents of Takapuna and the other boroughs on the North Shore. Further, the action taken in the past had been in conjunction with the Takapuna Borough Council and the North Shore Water Board. It' buildings were permitted on land round the lake there would be a grav«» danger of drainage finding its way into the water supply, conliuued the doctor. 'lhe Takapuna Council had undertaken a very heavy responsibility, as it would havo to consider itself blameworthy for any serious consequences which might arisa through the pollution of tho water. Apart from saying that the matter would be taken up with the local bodies interested, Dr. Chesson declined to comment on i.he future actions of tho Health Department.