ON THE BORDER-LINE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17526, 22 July 1931, Page 7

ON THE BORDER-LINE

BOHOUGH WATER SUPPLY HEALTH OFFICER ACTIVE „ DRASTIC STEPS THRKATENED '•"Here's our friend again," said the Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, at last evening's meeting of the Gisborno Borough Council, when a letter was read from 1 , the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. H; B.Turbott, In reference to the condition of the borough water supply. Dr. Turbott stated that unless the council took steps to improve the quality of the water during the present year, at the first meeting in 1932 he would ask tho Aboard of Health to consider the problem of the unsatisfactory Gisbonie supply. The council resolved, however, thawn view of the financial stringency ii could do nothing in the matter at Hie present juncture. ■■'. "ln acknowledging the councils reply U, my memorandum of July 3, regarding unsatisfactory water supply," stated the tealth officer, "1 regret a further misapprehension on the council's part. At irjy last conference with you, I most emphaticalliy stated werbally and in Writing: 'The thing that is pressing and argent is the necessary improvement in qaality of the existing supply.' Ihe Mavor, in his reply, stated: 'lt would be "four years at least before the work c6uld be completed.'

V, ".RUTTING WORDS INTO MY '■'■- MOUTH"

"Now, in your latest reply, you put the Mayor's words into my mouth, but, adding one year, say: 'The council desires to point out that they were under the impression, when you last interviewed them, that the question of water purification would have to be dealt with within five years.' In February last I pointed out 'the council must face expenditure on the present permanent supply immediately for this reason—the permanent supply is not of satisfactory quality.' I '-.regret".'that, in spite of persistent efforts on my part, the council does not vet realise the urgency of the matter. The people of the town are drinking unsatisfactory water. "/'You inform me the council is proceeding with a service reservoir," cantirtued. Dr. Turbott, "but I have told you many times that this is of no value from the health aspect. It will not iiftprove the quality of the product. If the council commence their augmentation scheme -with this service reservoir, it is not my concern. The ratepayers' health must be protected and therefore, having commenced this portion quite unnecessary, from the health standpoint, you njiist now, in addition, take sorno steps to safeguard health.

"Councillors should realise," contended Dr.'Turbott, "that the health of the borough was unsatisfactory last hot Weather, 1930-31, and that medical practitioners of the town were worried, several interviewing me on the question of water supply. I did my best to guard your unsatisfactory water supplv. because no actual proof was established. At the same time, I began to ask the council to improve the borough supply, pointing out the urgency of the question.' My statement that the borough supply runs on the border-line of allowable pollution has apparently not been fully appreciated by councillors. I tell you now, in plain language, the borough supply in its present state, compares unfavorably with other, water supplies in nle'iri New Zealand. 'Awapuni lagoon; fHatyoti; mooted as a supply, was at least *lo times worse again. I understand, of course, that the Awapuni scheme is not being proceeded with. DAM WITHIN A YEAR ■ "Ifc is of no avail to inform me that a big storage scheme cannot be dealt with' urgently. This is a question of *>ti(J engineering, opinion against another, it being held by competent opinion that tile necessary dam can be erected within «s year. The preliminary investigations already have been made as far as To Aral head works are concerned. I have perused in the presence and by kind •afermission of Mr. Young, your late engineer, information filed in your office. Atty other storage scheme lias yet to be approved by this department. The problem of "a protected area either by acquisition of land or use of concrete on a; large scale, no doubt would prove expensive in other schemes. However, the •Jouncil is a free agent in choosing: its scheme, remembering, always the health aspect requiring ex-council approval. What you do is not my concern so long as the water supplied is of good quality, and from source to consumer adequately protected from any chance of pollution.

"I am {dad the council agrees with me that a large storage reservoir would be of more benefit to the town than chemical treatment, not because of any objection to the latter, but because more water is needed as well as better quality. I wish the council could become seized with the urgency of the need for better water. In case, even now, you fail to jjrnsp 'this urgency t hereby formally advise you that unless the council puts under way this present year some stopsto improve the quality of the water 1 intend at- the first meeting in 1952 to ask the Board of Health to consider the problem of the unsatisfactory Gisborne water supply. "Finally/ 1 offer a suggestion," concluded Dr. Turbott. ''Parliament and citizens everywhere have shown dissatisfaction with post unemployment schemes. Can we in Gisborne not' approach the new Unemployment Board, while still formulating their scheme of operation, with a definite request lo make the. project of an adequate borouph water supply permissible as an unemployment scheme in Gisborne?"

MAYOR FELT HURT

"Dr. Turbofl accuses me, or the council," said the Mayor, Mr.' D. W. Colo man, "of putting words into bis mouth. Did he not say that we would have tr, improve the present supply within five years? It was not 1 who said it." Councillors murmured agreement, and sunported what the Mayor had said. The Mayor: Thank you, gentlemen. I was feeliiw hurt when this came along. Cr. IT. E." Maude pointed out that in an excerpt from a letter from the Director-General of Health to Dr. Turbott the council was given permission lo use the Awapuni water, but the department would fake no responsibility. It was an untenable position for iiie de partment to take up, allowing the council to use dangerous water; yet it was said that the Te Arai water was 10 times better than that at Awapuni. Cr. If. H. De Costa said the council appreciated the health officer's urgency in the matter.

Cr. Maude : There's no antagonism. Cr. De Costa : lie savs our water compares unfavorably with all others in llie Dominion. This has been going on for 20 years; and no one has died. Even when the wafer was at its worst there has been no trouble.

Cr. S. V. Beaufoy: On the contrary there has been less disease. PROBLEM OF FINANCE

Cr. De Costa said he would like the council to send a sample of the water for analysis to see how near it was to the borderline. He felt sure that it would compare favorably with any in the Dominion. "Dr. Turbott practically com mands us to fix it up by 1932," added Cr. De Costa. "It's all very well for him. but tan ho show us where to get the money? The water supply proposals were turned down by the ratepayers, and I'm sure they would be turned down again." The Mayor remarked that the health officer again suggested that the council should have a storage reservoir at Te Arai. but tho speaker wanted to point out that even if the council viewed the site favorably in past years, that was out of the question now. after tho earth quake. The engineer had assured him that the site was directly on the fault line, and it would be a suicidal policy to build a storage reservoir there. "Dr. Turbott writes as though it was quite an easv matter." said the Mayor, "but the engineer will tell you that apart from the site and the erection of the tank. £17.000 to £20,000 would be required for pipes alone. If Dr. Turbott looked through our list of outstanding rates he would be forced to aoree that it is absolutely impossible toexpect the ratepayers to sanction a loan."

BREAKING POINT REACHED

Cr. Maude: We have reached the breaking point. The Mavor: We have. Any work that would mean a big increase in the rates would be impossible. If the doctor says the water will have to be treated T am confident the council will take the matter in hand. I'll to now we have had nothing to sav that the water is unfit for public "use. Ho says it's on the borderline, but if he condemns it we will treat it. To try to force us into an augmentation scheme—well, it's impossible. I know the doctor is in earnest, and the council appreciates the. fact. Cr. A. K. Muir: Can we be forced into the expenditure? The Mayor: If the water is con demned we would have to chlorinate it. On the motion of Cr. De Costa it was resolved (o thank Dr. Turbott for bis letter and to advise him that it was impossible tor the council to do anything at nresent, but (he engineer was going into the matter.