WAITAWHETA WATER SUPPLY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3279, 23 June 1943, Page 5

WAITAWHETA WATER SUPPLY

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The Minister of Lands, Hon. J. G. Barclay’s reply to the Paeroa Borough Council’s request for the reservation of certain blocks of land in the Waitawheta watershed and the development of the Waitawheta stream as a water supply project being proceeded with is in my opinion distinctly disappointing.' The Minister sets out to explain the attitude of the Lands' Department towards the scheme, so much desired by the people of this district. He then says that the Department of Lands favours the locality and recognises the value of the Waitawheta river as the best potential source of’ water supply in that part of the Auckland district. of the department, however, advise that they could see no immediate propects of its being required or made use of. This statement seems to me to require some explanation in view of our past experience and the persistent demand for water from residents of the Hauraki Plains and elsewhere. If the demands are to meet with any measure of success < then the one and only source of relief is the immediate prosecution and completion of the Waitawheta water supply project. To achieve this purpose it would he advisable to approach our Parliamentary representatives. Mr J. Thorn, Thames, and Mr A. S. Sutherland, Hauraki, representatives of local bodies, members of repatriation boards could meet in conference and discuss the merits of the scheme, reduce it to a working basis convenient for presentation to Parliament. In that way I feel some progress would be made. It might be said that the time is not opportune for launching a scheme involving so large an expenditure. A ! good answer to this would be to quote the Hon. Mr Nash’s War Budget which is now being debated. Four million pounds are provided in the Budget , for expenditure on essential public * works and with a little 'diplomatic manoeuvring a chip from this golden i block might be conveniently deflected in our direction. I Thus the Waitawheta water supply scheme would to some extent be as-, sored and the people in many parte I of the Plains would be relieved from |

any threat of a water famine in the future. It is true there is a number of .water supply schemes operating on the plains to-day and in some respects operating quite successfully and the farmers are to be commended for their foresight and industry but it is also, true to say these services do not reach many of the outlying places who still suffer disabilities of water shortage. Water in abundance is the most essential commodity on. the Plains. Indeed, I know of no project that would revitalise the productive capacity of the Plains district more than water—our economic existence is dependent on water—in the form of hydro-elec-tric energy, our homes, on the farm* in our factories—water, clean, wholesome and unlimited supply is required. Coming nearer home and dealing with our supply from Takerie’s ereek I would like to pat the Mayor, Mr Edwin Edwards, on the back for his commendable attitude in his prompt rejection of the suggestion that the present supply could be supplemented by additional dam construction. No one knows better than Mr Edwards the limited capacity of the water conservation area and he was . quite correct in dismissing the idea that an increased supply eould be taihed by extra dams.—l am, etc,, W. H. TAYLOR. Hill street, Paeroa, 21:1:43.