Waterworks Position Will be Changed

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 353, 14 May 1928, Page 1

Waterworks Position Will be Changed

PREPARING LEGISLATION OUTCOME OF COMMISSION Though the statement has been made several times that the report of the Water Commission left the position of the undertaking as it was before, appearances are deceptive. As a direct result of the findings of the commission, the city solicitor, Mr. J. Stanton, has been engaged off and on since last August in preparing legislation which the City Council will place before the approaching session of Parliament. It is not yet known whether the legislation will be introduced as a local Bill through an Auckland member, or as a local Bill in charge of a Minister. It is unlikely that it will be treated as a Government measure, though it is based on the findings of a Royal Commission. The proposed legislation is being framed entirely on the lines of the recommendations of the commission which inquired into the position of Auckland’s water supply, the whole of which recommendations were afterwards adopted by the City Council, after a discussion held in committee. PROVISIONS PROPOSED

In outlining the legislation it thought necessary, the commission said it was desirable to give a measure of protection to the outside local bodies, more than would be given in a mere right of negotiation. The points covered the rights of outside bodies to acquire water from the City Council within reasonable time, on reasonable price and terms. A right to call for arbitration was also suggested, as a means of removing cause for complaint. The commissioners stressed the necessity of allowing the city a reasonable profit, and thought this would remove any likelihood of city ratepayers refusing to grant loans necessary for the city to supply outside bodies, but they realised that ratepayers might express dissatisfaction of an arbitration award by refusing a loan. To provide for this eventuality the commission proposed that legislation should be sought on the lines of the compulsory provisions of the Health Act, 1920, whereby a local body must providei certain works if called upon and is given power to raise a loan without a poll of ratepayers.