WATER FOR BIRKENHEAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21647, 13 November 1933, Page 14

WATER FOR BIRKENHEAD

CONTRACT WITHOUT POLL OPPOSING PETITION SIGNED Preliminaries have been well advanced for giving effect to the arrangement under which the Auckland City Council will supply Birkenhead with all water required, the bulk supply to bo delivered to the reservoir at Bngot's Hill. The period of the proposed agreement is 21 years, but section 2-19 of j the Municipal Corporations Act, 1020, requires a poll to authorise a contract j exceeding three years. To expedite the signing of the contract, and so permit of the works being pushed ahead with all possible speed, the Birkenhead Borough Council proposes to overcome this legal barrier by securing empowering legislation during this session of Parliament. The following clause was forwarded to the Minister of Internal Affairs for insertion in the Local Legislation Bill, and it has been supported by a petition from 800 ratepayers of the borough: — "Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 240 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1020, the BirkenhcaTl Borough Council is hereby authorised to contract with the Auckland City Council for such supply of water as the Birkenhead Borough Council thinks necessary for all purposes for a period of 21 years." A counter petition is being forwarded to the Minister, as follows:—"We, ratepayers and residents of the Borough of Birkenhead, hereby protest against the Government giving permission to the Birkenhead Borough Council to enter into a contract with the Auckland City Council, or any other body, without a poll of the ratepayers being taken. We protest on the grounds that the existing legislation should not be altered, as it will lead to other matters being dealt with in the same way; and more especially as the Birkenhead Borough Council has not given full consideration to other schemes and possible cost to the users of the water supply."