WATER SUPPLY

Opunake Times, 22 August 1947, Page 2

WATER SUPPLY

LOANS BOARD’S ATTITUDE COUNCIL DISCUSSION Reporting on tlie interview with the secretary of the Loans Board, Mr. T, W. Rait, at Wellington recently, Cr. R. H. Hughson stated that Mr. Rait had questioned the need for. the enlarged scheme in view of the decrease in Borough population as shown by the latest census figures. The scheme approved in 1929 was based on a population exceeding 1000 and he considered that under the circumstances the increased expenditure entailed in providing the enlarged service would not he warranted, Mr. Rait also felt that further committments for a loan of £27,000, in view of the present Harbour rating, may create a burden to ratepayers of the Borough, but in any case this matter would be fully investigated when the application was made to the Board. The ideal scheme would be one which was within the resources of the citizens and which would be approved by both ratepayers and the Loans Board.

Cr. Davey: Did you tell him that the lack of a water supply may be the reason for the population decline. Cr. Hughson also advised that loan terms depended on the type of pipes used in the scheme, for example: Fibrolite 20 years, steel, concrete lined, 30 years, and concrete, 35 years. He added that the secretary had intimated that final,approval of the application would probably take at least three months.

Cr, Hickey felt that with due respect to the secretary, the present scheme which allowed for increased pipe sizes was necessary under present day conditions and he said that the 1929 scheme, if it had been put into effect, would have proved inadequate. “We should submit a scheme which we consider adequate to meet present and future requirements/’ he added. Cr. Hughson suggested that the scheme should be examined by the Board, v The Town Clerk, Mr. H. E. Collins; It would first be necessary to prepare complete plans, specifications and estimates of the cost before submitting an application to the Board, The cost would be in the vicinity of £200.,

Cr. EL Clement considered that the approval of ratepayers at a public meeting should first be obtained before the Council was committed to further expenditure.

In answer to a question put by the Mayor, Mr, G. C. Clouston, Cr. Hickey stated that the previous poll had been taken in 1931' when the Harbour scheme was in the “doldrums.” Cr. Hickey also intimated that he would not be standing for the Council at the next election and felt that as a matter of principle he would not be in favour of committing the new council. He moved that the council write to the Loans Board asking whether the plans and specifications prepared by Mr T. Dix, Waitara Borough Engineer, would be satisfactory to the Loans Board,—Cr. Hughson seconded. —Carried. The council did not favour a public meeting of ratepayers until full facts and details were available.