CHARGE REBUTTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26640, 10 December 1947, Page 6

CHARGE REBUTTED

WATER SUPPLY FOR SAWYERS’ BAY FIRE BOARD’S REPLY The reported statement by Cr H. S, Watson at a Port Chalmers Borough Council meeting to the effect that the Port Chalmers Fire Board had failed in its duty by making no provision for obtaining a water supply for fire fighting at Sawyers’ Bay has drawn a reply from the Fire Board. In a statement issued by authority of the board last night the chairman, Mr S. E. T. Crimp, rebutted the charge made and said that the responsibility lay with the council. The statement said:— “As an ex-member of the board, Mr Watson should be aware that it is not within the functions of a .fire board to provide a water supply. This is the function of the local authority, in this case the Port Chalmers Borough Council. This position is so well known that it seems surprising that at a meeting of the Port Chalmers Borough Council, the defection of the council in respect of its water supply should be made to appear the concern of another body. It may interest the council to know that the board has had no official advice of the incorporation of portion of Sawyers' Bay in the borough of Port Chalmers, something which apparently took place about 12 months ago.”