BONE OF CONTENTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 100, 13 December 1939, Page 5

BONE OF CONTENTION

FLUSHING OF WATER CHANNELS

MATTER TO BE INVESTIGATED

"Following representations from the Retailers' Association through Mr G. 15. Gibbercl urging that the water--tables in the Strand be flushed with water during the forthcoming sunimonths, the Borough Council last Wednesday decided to relax slightly from its former attitude and to order the Works Committee to , investigate the whole question with the idea of re-introducing the practice should it be found economically to do so. 'The letter suggested two alternatives, (a) part flushing from 8 a.m. till noon, (b) erecting a small: dam •at the rear of Messrs Hamill's properly for the purpose of capturing ''the. water from the stream there could be utilised.

It was obvious from the conversa"tion which followed that the council was ready to give the rhatter the TuMest consideration and though in two camps over the subject were to do the utmost in their "power. Cr Shapley claimed that the finances made it impossible to alter the present decision which last .month resul'tled in the water being icut off. In this he was strongly supported by the Mayor Avho said that with costs going up, and the genera] 'indication of the times being thai things would get 'tougher' still it -was necessary to conserve every -penny. Cr Canning could not agree. The ratepayers were entitled to consideration and he didn't go much on ;'i:he mayoral opinion. Mr Barry smiling: "You can pay for what its worth!"

Cr Canning then spoke of the rubbish which was blown about the dry /gutters and the bad advertisement the present state of affairs was for the town. If £50 was devoted to this work it would be money well spent. With the excellent water supply running ready-made from the hills i it was ridiculous to keep a little from the gutters in pursuit of cleanliness. Crs Caisjey, Brabant and Armstrong condemned the decision of the council maintaining that since •the water was cut off the town assumed the appearance of a pigsty rafter the shopping periods.

Cr Shapley again pointed out the folly of fresh capital outlay which he said would be necessary, for what he considered a measure which was not entirely warranted. Water in the gutters did little or nothing to overcome the dust and paper nuisance.

Cr Armstrong said that the meeting of retailers was absolutely unanimous on the point and the council should not ignore the suggestion.

Cr Sullivan stated that the council had not cut oU the supply with the idea of creating any disability to the shopkeepers, but merely to conserve the water supply. He agreed that the service was useful but declared when the town was needing such a tremendous volume lor domestic purposes it became imperative to conserve. There was no alternative. The householders must come first. If however an economical scheme could be devised he was prepared to give it consideration. He therefore moved that the matter be referred to the works committee to investigate.

Gr Canning seconded and the motion after a few comments by the Mayor was carried.