THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY. MONDAY, MARCH 25, 1929. PAEROA WATER SUPPLY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5404, 25 March 1929, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY. MONDAY, MARCH 25, 1929. PAEROA WATER SUPPLY.

A striking, indictment a.ndi rather alarming statement in regard to the precarious reServes of Paeroa water supply, was presented to the Paeroe, Borough Council, by the Works Com-, mittee on the 14th inst., and was aS follows :— • “ Owing to reduction of. pressure and shortage of. supply it was found necessary to prohibit the use ■pit all gardten hoses. This restriction has had the depired effect, but under, existing conditions there will be an annual ,recurrefice of low pressure during dry weather, resulting in almost entire absence, of supply to consumers oir the high levels. The new data which the County Council is jiow erecting .will not improve this matter, but it will doubtless for some time obviate the shortage of supply. Several rqniedial pleasures are possible, but. as this Council is. nearing the end of its term' of office it is probably wisest to refer this, matter to the most serious considera-

tion of the incoming Counc.il.”

The question of scarcity of water during the months has, been a seasonable dread hanging over the heads of Paeroa’s citizens for as many years as there has been need' for an adequate piped, supply. Hopqs that this, dread would perhaps be removed with the completion of the dam ate now. most effectively dispersed by the committee’s report. The tPwn will bq no better off than before. The incoming council will be performing a public duty, and an. act Jong due, if. on taking office it immediately sets, about dfevising ways and means of settling the question once and! for all. The longer procrastination goes on the worse; and: more vexatious the problem will become ; for as year succeeds ye;ar an increased call is made on water supply, ajid with the increase of Paeroa’s population, which is undoubtedly coming, it will pass beyond tlie stage of cutting off garden holses and become definitely and deadly acute. As the present small population cannot be properly suppliedl'this is obvious. Apart altogether from water for household purposes, etc., haw unfair it, is, when it comes to tire, to residents on the higjher levels, where, admittedly, at times n'o water is available for 11 re-fighting purposes. Is this fair to those ratepayers ? To make them pay for what they do not receive is rather a questionable practice. As it is, the cpluntry loses too much already from fire loss without the. non-nrovislon of the most urgent and necessary preventive] requisite to those on Pa.eroa’s uplands. A comprehensive, broadl-visioned scheme is the only answer tof the present conditions. No morq nibbling, with the consequent waste of money ; but a long-sighted and sane project under the guidance of. experts. Paeroa’s roiads were once;, in the distant past, an absolute disgrace to the town. Now they are a justified! pride to the inhabitants, inviting and receiving, unstinted praise from visitors : a nd they remain a visible testimony to thq c.ouncil responsible. One Council is about to leave office with this great accomplishment to its credit. At the commencement of the borough reading scheme all was not a bed of roses; but, notwithstanding, the council succeeded, and there is no reason, why an incoming council could not, or should not, through their efforts, leave behind them a monument in the form of an adequate water supply for now and for posterity.