WATER SUPPLY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20535, 29 September 1936, Page 6

WATER SUPPLY

DEPUTATION TO GOVERNMENT

PUBLIC WORKS SCHEME

To make representations to the Prime Minister, Minister of Employment and Minister of Public Works with a view to having the Te Ngawai downlands water supply scheme constituted a national undertaking to be carried out by the Public Works Department, a deputation will visit Wellington next week. This decision was reached at a meeting of the Te Ngawai Downlands Water Supply Special Committee held on Saturday night. There were present: Messrs A. J. Davey (in the chair), T. D. Burnett, M.P., P. R. Talbot, A. H. Roberts, H. Friel, T. B. Garrick, C. E. Kerr and T. G. Beck (Public Works engineer). Information in connection with the areas and valuations of the properties to be served had been obtained and the method of financing the scheme was fully considered. Information was received with reference to the Rauka-puka-Geraldine scheme and the new scheme at Awatere, Marlborough. The meeting emphasised the importance of a water supply for the district, it being pointed out that the average rainfall for the Dominion is 52ins, while that for South Canterbury is only 22ins. It was stated that the water supply would be a great boon to the dairying industry and more particularly to the dairymen supplying Timaru. The meeting was most enthusiastic regarding the possibilities of the scheme and it was finally decided that a deputation consisting of Mr A. J. Davey (chairman of the committee), the three chairmen representing the Geraldine, Mackenzie and Levels County Councils, chairman of the Pleasant Point Town Board and a representative of the dairymen supplying Timaru should proceed to Wellington to urge the necessity of the scheme on the Government.