WATER RESERVES

Evening Star, Issue 23381, 26 September 1939, Page 11

WATER RESERVES

CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC PRECAUTIONARY WAR-TIME MEASURE For tbo duration of the war members of the public will not bo permitted within any of tho areas adjoining tho city water reserves. This step, which becomes operative immediately, has been taken as a war-time precautionary measure, and was brought before the City Council last night by Cr R. Walls, chairman of the Water Committee, who moved along those lines. “ As a war-time measure,” said Cr Walls, “ the duty of protecting essential public facilities is cast on the municipal authorities, and it has, therefore, become essential for tho council to take necessary steps to ensure the safety of such vital undertakings us electricity works, gasworks, and water works, the destruction of or interference with which would) not only have a serious effect on tho community as a whole, but would disorganise and impede tho national effort to make the tallest possible use of the resources of tho Dominion. “In this connection some special measures are necessary in the case of the water works. Certain safeguarding measures have already been taken, but it. is obvious that if the protection is to be wholly effective, not only the reservoirs, but also the catchments and the streams therein which feed the" reservoirs must bo safeguarded against tho possibility of action by disaffected persons. It is a difficult matter to provide adequate and constant supervision for tho ivhole of the extensive water catchments, and a review of the position makes it clear that to bo effective control must be accompanied by a measure of prohibition against admission to the water works as a whole. “ Therefore, while it is regretted that such a course should be found essential, it has been decided that on and after the publication of this information, the public must be excluded entirely from the reservoirs and the water reserves and catchment areas, excepting those persons who may be lawfully entitled to admission,. or who may bo specifically authorised by the council to enter upon any portion of the water works. The public should therefore be asked particularly to note this prohibition, which is imposed as an essential war-timo measure, and failure to observe which may have serious consequences for the offender.” Cr W, B. Taverner seconded the motion, which was carried without discussion.

The mayor (Mr ,A. H. Allen) expressed approval of tho motion, and stated that the public would have to forgo picnicking in any of tho extensive bush reserves adjacent to the various reservoirs just so long as the present emergency existed.