EFFECTS OF DRY SPELL IN WESTLAND

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5320, 5 February 1947, Page 7

EFFECTS OF DRY SPELL IN WESTLAND

The prolonged spell of fine weather in the Westland Province during the last few weeks has had the almost immediate effect of causing a water shortage in those areas not suplpied by reg-ular water supply services. Water will have to be carted to many households v/ithin the next few days if there is not a heavy fall of rain. It is reported that the position at Blackball is becoming acute. Because of a water shortage there las June miners at Blackball protested against the poor system of supply, and water had to be carted for some time until rain fell. In the meantime, three suggested schemes have been investigated by the .Public Works Department. Considerable sickness is reported from Blackball and is atributed partly to the had state of the tank water supply. The Blackball State Miners' Union will probably meet this week to oiscuss the question, but it is considered that direct action will not be taken because of the decision reached on the- matter after uniorf officials had met Cabinet members last year. . The water supply at Kumara, where the majority of residents ' rely on tanlcs, is also serious. In the Buller district, water has had to be carried from town sources to country homes, the rainfall being only 37 points in 1-6 days.