WATER SCHEME

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19118, 1 December 1933, Page 5

WATER SCHEME

SUPPLY FROM WAIKATO LOCAL BODY OPPONENTS. OBJECTIONS OUTLINED. WELLINGTON. Thursday. The Select Committee of the House to-dav heard evidence from representatives of the One Tree Hill and Onehunga boroughs and the Manukau County, opposing the Waikato Water Bill. This completed the case of the suburban local bodies, and the case of the Auckland City Council will he heard when the committee resumes on Wednesday. The committee consists of Messrs S. G. Smith, M.P. (chairman), W. A. Bodkin, A. E Ansell, R Semple and p. Fraser. The fact that an attempt was made 30 years ago by the Walhl Goldmining Company to harness the Waikato River for power was recalled by Mr I. j. GoLdstine, Mayor of One Tree Hill, who recorded strong oppostion to the bill on behalf of his council. He stated that th& Waihi company commenced operations to harness the Waikato at Horahora when Mr Seddon was Prime Minister, and he Immediately realised the danger of allowing a private company to become vested with such powers. The result was the passing of a Water Power Act. Mr Seddon’s bill was a clear precedent, which Parliament should follow, that public utilities should be reserved to tire public. Mr Goldstine said it was considered basically wrong to give to a private or a public company control over such a vitally important commodity as water. Potentially Dangerous Clause. The city of Auckland was specially dealt with in section 48, but, even with the inclusion of the borough of One Tree Hill on the same basis as the city, his council was of opinion that the clause was potentially dangerous as the company might see lit to offer water to factories, etc., at a price with whiQh the council could not possibly compete, and means might be discovered to compel the council to agree to such private supplies to the detriment -of the ratepayers. The company 1 -expeoted to become both a wholesale and a retail supplier. This would lead to endless friction and could not be tolerated. Among other clauses to which exception was taken, continued Mr Goldstine, was that providing for the payment of directors. T-here would be a danger of a paid local body member becoming a creature of the company. If Parliament, notwithstanding the objections raised, agreed to pass the bill, he considered that a clause should he inserted to the -effect that the bill should not be deemed to prejudice the right of any local authority or group of local authorities to take water from any part of the Waikato River. A clause should be added, providing that nothing in the bill should be construed as exonerating the company from Liability to pay rates. “Offer Us the World.” Mr Goldstine -said the company had approached his borough, hut had made no concrete offer until the eleventh hour. “They were apparently prepared to offer us the world, said Mr -Goldstine. “On the one condition that we withdrew our opposition and supported the bill, they offered to -supply .us at a price much below that offered to other local bodies —for what reason I do not know." Mr Goldstine said the offer was to supply One Tree Hill’s excess requirements at Cd in consideration of the council agreeing to -support the hill. “I understand they also went and' offered it to another local body at 5d,” said Mr. Goldstine. Mr E. 11. Northeroft, who appeared in support -of the bill, read the letter from the company to the lOne Tree Hill Borough Council, and said that If the borough wished to rely partly on its own supply the -company was willing to provide the excess. The offer had been made with the knowledge and concurrence -of other local bodies. , _ . „„ Mr E. Morton, Mayor of Onehunga, said he was deputed to protest against tlie bill. Onehunga -had had its own supply for 40 years. Onehunga supplied Mount Roskill and Ellerslie at lOd a 1000 gallons, which -was the most reasonabe price in the Dominion, and Onehunga made a profit out of this, which helped to maintain the streets. Onehunga consumers -got watei at a flat rate of 12s 6d per annum. If the hill were passed Onehunga would require a loan of £SOOO for meters for the whole borough. Everyone was satisfied, and they did not wish to be interfered with.' position of Harbour Board. Speaking as a member of the Auckland Harbour Board, -Mr S. Vella said that members individually were not in favour of the bill. . Mr Northeroft: Tins witness is not competent to speak of that. The H.ubour Board 'lias undertaken to support Ul Answering Mr Fraser, the witness said the Harbour Board bad not supported the bill. It was asked if it would raise any objection to pipes gome across the harbour. It had to consider the hill from the point of view of the navigation of the harbour, and it, was referred to the board’s solicitors to sec that the intciests of (lie harbour were protected. Mr Fraser: The majority of the members of the board arc opposed to this bill? Witness: Yes. Details of .the water scheme of the Manukau Bounty Council were given hv m.. waters, chairman, who said the con illy had a surplus of 1,000,000 callous a week. The loss of some of the eounrirs largest consumers could easilv result in the scheme becoming uneconomic and a burden In private consumers. The council was opposed to such wide powers as were slated in I lie bill being given to a private company. The council had almost completed a new scheme for the Matmere Biding, costing £<'>•>,ooo, ami providing for 20,000 people.