MANUKAU DRAINAGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 622, 26 March 1929, Page 15

MANUKAU DRAINAGE

COUNCIL ANNOYED OVER BELATED REPORT

DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH

Strong comment was made at the meeting of the Onehunga Borough Council last evening regarding the delay occasioned by the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board in failing to submit its report on tlje question of a scheme for- the drainage of Elle.rslie and the undrqined portions of Onehunga. The Mayor said the work was urgently required and was being held up by (he drainage board to the danger of the public health of the district. The medical officer of health had advised the council that ho had drawn the attention of the board’s engineer to the question. Cr. F. S. Morton urged that the Minister of Public Health should be acquainted with the position. Cr. E. Morton drew attention to the pollution of the upper reaches of the Manukau by the various meat and chemical works, near Otahuliu. which should be included in any proposed drainage scheme.

The Mayor hinted that the object of the drainage board was to endeavour to include the whole of the mettropolitan area in one huge scheme, which he strongly opposed, as Onehunga had already a good system, and for the further reason that it was the thin end of the wedge to bring aboLit the project of a Greater Auckland. He advocated the combination of Onehunga. Ellerslie and part of Mount Roskill in the establishment of a board to control the drainage into tho Manukau.

A further effort is to be made to obtain the required report from the engineer of the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board.