WATER FOR THE PORT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2209, 23 July 1914, Page 9

WATER FOR THE PORT

» ~„ ' MEANS OF ECONOMY CATCHMENT AREA SCHEME^ _ "That the board take into consideration tho advisability of acquiring a catehment basin with the object of providing a water-supply of its own for tho port." Tlie, above was the text of a resolution moved by Captain D. J. Watson at the monthly meeting of the Harbour Board last night. In speaking to the. motion Captain Watson said that in bringing the matter forward he.was actuated by noting the large amount paid to the City Council for water supply—over £5000 per ■ annum.: If that were capitalised it would come to something like £80,000. He understopd an area could be acquired at Ngaio, or perhaps some other suitablo place, and if a water supply could bo established for from £15,000 to £20,000, it would result in an annual saving of something like £4000. On that account audh 0 scheme seemed well worthy of consideration. The chairman (Mr. R. Fletcher) said that since notico of motion had been ,nivon', by Captain Watson, the board had received an offer of another area. He was sorry, however, that he would have to rule the,motion out of order, as ho had obtained an opinion from the board's solicitors to the effect that the board could'not acquire an area blitside the area of its present jurisdiction without a special Act of Parliament. He, recognised; however,, the importance of such a proposal to .the board. ; . Afr. Cohen declared that before f hey could ask for an Act of Parliament thev would have to know if there was any virtue in the proposed scheme, and he sVaested .the. matter should be discussed from that point of view. Mr.'C.W.'iTones was also of opinion that, the matter was a proper one for discussion. The chairman explained that he had no wish to stop the discussion, only he had thought it would be time wasted, in view of the fact that the board could riot proceed without a .special 'Act. If it was the wish of members, they were free to discuss it. . , Air. Cohen then formally seconded the motion, and explained that years ago he had formed the opinion that the City Council was not treating the board fairly. It;seemed to him that tho council 1 had the board in a "cleft-stick." and was trying to make as much money as possible out of it. ■ He was satisfied they were not having a fair deal, and he thought Captain Watson was to be commended for bringing forward the resolution, after, eliciting from the chairman that the charge made by tho City Council for water for shipping was os. per thousand gallons, Mr. Coheri described the conditions of things as .'monstrous.'' ' , ■ Mr. Jones thought it was grossly tinfair that the City Council should charge such High rates. By the time the Harbour Board had received its charge for delivering the water to shipping, the cost was 6s. Bch per thousand gallons, and that would help to make Wellington the dearest port. ; Captain Watson's resolution was only asking that tho matter should be considered, and if .by consideration they, could find a:new way out of it, by all means let them consider it. : . Mr.-Jones mentioned that the Bluff Harbour Board already had its' own waterr:supply,.'andMf aie.cessary,; the Wellington :Board'could ask for'ati l Act of Parliamont. He cordially supsported the .motion. ■■''.." •"Mr.:A. H; Hindmarsh saidthey would also haveto get a Bill to jsullup the Wellington streets to lay the pipes! '. , ' Air. Jones retorted that thev- wer» used to the'streets being : pulled up. He thought Captain Watson's resolution should go to a committee: Irfthe course of.further discussion it was stated that the City Council supplied water - to some of the 'local bodies at a cost of 9d. per thousand gallons, and some of the water supplied to the board was at reasonable rates, but the cost of water to shipping in Wellington was (the chairman declared) the .highest'in New Zoaland. ,■ (.Mr.'-.'Jones': The highest in Australasia. ■.'-. . ' The chairman remarked that the council ongbt to make a reduction and then the: board could pass it on to the ships, v Air. R.:A.Wriffht :And will the ships pass it on to the publio and reduce fares'?. .-.-.-. v The chairman said he thought it would be generally agreed that the cost of the water was unreasonable. The .whole matter ought to be referred to a committee to consider. Mr. Hindmarsh hoped they would, not do anything before approaching 'tine 'City Council on the matter to see what could he dorte. He moved that the City Council he written to. The chairman;. They've been written to already. .'.'■' ■-.•Iri answer to a question from Air. Hindmarsh, the chairman stated that hi 'Aiiokland the. charge to tne was 4s. 6d. per thousand gallons. A remark was added about attracting ships to port. , ' Afr. Hindmarsh: "It's all "very well to say attract the shins here by giving them cheap water. It would maTre no difference whatever to the shins." Ho went on to say that tho local bodies ought to assist -one another in theso matters, and he again moved that the City Council be approached and the other idea abandoned. Eventually it was agreed that Captain Watson's resolution sh'oukl be referred to a committee for consideration, and also ihat' the City Council should be again approached in reference to the water supply '