"DESPERATE STRAITS"

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 128, 26 November 1929, Page 10

"DESPERATE STRAITS"

PETONE WATER SHORTAGE

The dry summer weather is making itself felt at Petone, and last night the Mayor (Mr. D. M'Kenzie) spoke of the seriousness of the position, in regard to the borough water supply. In issuing a warning to householders to conserve the supply as much as possible, he remarked that the first section of the new reticulation system would not be completed until near the end of February, or the beginning of March, and it would be at least six months longer before the second section would be finished.

"We are really in desperate straits," he said. "The pressure is so low that if a great fire broke out the position would be very serious."

The borough inspector (Mr. W. B. Gough) pointed out that the bylaws expressly forbade householders to hose their gardens, unless the water passed through a meter. It was really prohibit I even through a meter, but he was certain that if people had to pay according to the meter for the water used on gardens an excessive amount would not be used. Councillor R. W. Toomath asked what was the position with regard to the changes made for water passing through a meter. Was a maximum amount allowed to pass before the charge operated, or was the water paid for according to a flat rate? Mr. Gough replied that water used for domestic purposes was allowed through at half rates, but that no reduction was made for water used for special purposes, such as garden hosing.