MUST DO SOMETHING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 59, 24 March 1944, Page 5

MUST DO SOMETHING

BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY PROBLEM FOR NEW COUNCIL Complaints to the Medical Officer of Health with regard to - the impure nature of the Whakatante water supply brought a letter of enquiry from that official to the Borough Council last Monday evening when councillors readily admitted the grounds for the complaint but claimed that nothing could be done about an alternative scheme for * supply until the new Council ; was elected next May. '"This is a big question," said the Mayor when discussing the letter, "and there is no doubt but that the Council will have to tackle it fairly promptly. Tlie water lias, definitely been over the. odds." Cr Shapley: Something's got. to be done. The first thing is to raise a loan. Could this come up for consideration at the same time as the election. The Mayor: You haven't a hope, the whole scheme would "have to be prepared together with the costs. Cr Canning: In my opinion tlie first thing is to have a settling-bed created so that the water can be purified, its been absolutely put red lately. Al'ler a bath I have to have a .shower to try and remove the sand. One thing about it. is you don't need' sand soap. He went on to say that many people were apt to blame the old councillors but these hatl done their best under the circumstances. Its been a matter of. rates. T,f we had them we could give the amenities. I've told those who are doing the biggest squeak to stand lor the Council and try and do better. The Mayor added that if the; new Council were prepared to face up to a heavy cost in this direction the people must be prepared to meet a heavier rate. There were all sorts of expenses. If for instance iilter beds were needed it might mean a permanent attendant at award rates to keep the screens clear. Cr Creeke once again roundly condemned the present system, which he maintained had been wrong from the start. The alternative was definitely the Maraetotara Stream which could lie dammed and supply the town by gravity. He was certain that if this were done Whakatane's water problems would disappear. •'lts- going to be a big job at any rate," concluded. His Worship with a sigh, "and will provide the new. Council with many headaches." i