RIVERS CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24050, 22 August 1941, Page 8

RIVERS CONTROL

PI)0VISIONS IN BILL WATER SUPPLY AREAS CITY COUNCIL'S CONCERN The opinion that certain provisions of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Bill, now before Parliament, might come into conflict with the water supply interests of local authorities controlling catchment areas was expressed by the city waterworks engineer, -Mr. A. 1). Mead, in a report presented to the City Council last night. On the recommendation of iis Works Committee, the council decided to communicate with the .Minister ol Public Works, the Hon. 11. T. Armstrong, and the Municipal Association on the subject. Mr. Mead cited the case ol the Mangatangi and Mangatawhiri streams, which would almost certainly become the principal water supply sources ol Auckland and on which the council bad acquired considerable forest reserves. The lower courses ol these streams, he said, ran through low-lying areas subject to flooding. The bill contemplated the vesting ol such areas in the central council which it was proposed to set up, and in local catchment boards with wide powers, including that of entry upon lands. Some of these powers, if exercised without reference to water supply requirements, might have disastrous effects, and a body like the City Council would have no remedy except a claim for financial compensation.

In Mr. Mead's view, on any lands reserved for water supply purposes which might fall within a soil conservation area, the water supply interests should take lirst place, ile recommended that an endeavour be made to have a clause inserted in the bill providing that nothing in the latter should authorise the central council or catchment boards to carry out any work which in the opinion of any local authority would detrimentally affect its water supply, or, alternatively, that objections by such authorities should be heard by an independent body, such as the Board of Health.

As the operations of water supply authorities promoted the objects for which the bill had been introduced, water supply and other reserves in catchment districts should not be liable ior rates to catchment boards.