WAIRERE WATER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 100, 17 July 1946, Page 5

WAIRERE WATER

MAORI SUPPLY QUESTION CONFERENCE TO BE HELD 'x - '"T “I know I am opening a delicate subject,” said Cr J. Creeke at last week’s meeting of the Borough Council, “but I want to refer to the Wairere water supply which has been condemned by the Health Department, and regarding which the Maoris have a legal opinion indicating that to a certain extent this Council is involved. The Maoris want to have a quiet talk with the Council on the matter So that some mutual decision may be reached.”

The Mayor (Mr B. S. Barry) said he was quite prepared to meet the Maoris at any time. The Council was always willing to let them link up with the Borough supply. Cr Creeke: Yes that’s alright but that means that they will have to pay because their traditional supply has been polluted through no fault of their own. I have it from Sir Apirana Ngata that the Native Land Scheme is No. 1 offender and the Council is No. 11. We want to know what is the Council’s attitude. There are 37 houses down there connected up and I would like some finality. I suggest the Borough obtain a legal opinion as to its position. Cr Shapley could , not see where the Borough came into the picture. The Wairere stream was polluted long before it reached the Borough by the scheme drainage. If the Maoris had a case let them come to the Council and prove it. Cr Creeke: I quote the Local Bodies Public Health Act where it is shown that where a water supply exists the onus is upon the local body concerned to keep it clean. Cr Sullivan said that broadly the Maoris claimed that the supply from Wairere and theirs forever. The basis of fact was now, that the water had been condemned by the Native Land Department through not fencing off I the catchment s;iid safeguardin'® it The Native Land Department were the culprits as no sewerage from any house in the Borough that he knew of reached the stream and the Borough could do nothing about it. Apparently the Maoris wanted the Borough water but they didn’t want to pay for it.

Cr Canning observed that the matter had been before the Council for at least 20 years. It was decided to agree to meet the Maoris concerned next Monday evening.