WATER SUPPLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 52, 15 March 1946, Page 5

WATER SUPPLY

ENQUIRY FROM HEALTH OFFICER WATER FROM WAIRERE FALLS The Whakatane Borough Coun-

cil was unanimously of the opinion last Monday evening that the question of linking up ratepayers who were now drawing from the Wairere falls supply, to the municipal reticulation service was purely one for the consumers themselves, and that the enquiry from the Health Officer regarding this matter was not one for the Council’s consideration, but rather for the Health Department itself to act upon. The discussion followed the re-

ceipt of a letter from the actingMedical Officer of Health (Gisborne District) who enquired regarding the extension and treatment of the existing Borough water supply, and also the supply to consumers from the Wairere Stream, which, it was claimed, was unsuitable for drinking purposes.

Matter for Consumers “I take it when these people apply themselves, to be linked up with the Borough, we will consider it,” said His Worship the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, “but as long as the Medical Officer fails to serve the necessary requisition on the consumers concerned they simply will not do it.

Cr Sullivan said that the Maoris did not want the Borough service, and he could quite understand it in view of the fact that they had been drawing free water from Wairere for years past. With regard to the present Borough service, the Mayor said that all the Council could reply was that it was going into the total cost of a new scheme and if Government subsidy was available, it would be very glad of it. Question of Liability

Cr Warren asked if there was any liability if an' epidemic were traceable to the water.

The Mayor: These people have taken the water on their own initiative and I take it that it is a matter for the Health Officer to bring pressure to bear to have them change over to the Borough supply.

Cr Sullivan said that the Maoris in the pa, who were mainly concerned with Wairere were endeavouring to find a new supply from the springhead above the falls. They did not want to be linked with the Borough water, but nevertheless, he thought the Borough had a responsibility in at least making enquiries into the position.

Maori Viewpoint

Cr Creeke declared that while acting for the Maoris, he felt in an awkward position as a Councillor, for the area surrounding the stream above the falls had been polluted, and the Maoris, as a result, through no fault of their own appeared on the verge of being deprived of their natural source of water over the centuries.

Cr Shapley said he would like to have a special meeting called to consider the whole matter.

On the motion of the Mayor, it 'was decided to reply that with regard to the main Borough supply, the Council was still investigating, the position, but that in connection with the consumers from Wairere, they had received no applications for linking up and when they did, the Council would be quite happy to give them favourable consideration.