WATER FOR AUCKLAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 718, 18 July 1929, Page 10

WATER FOR AUCKLAND

PROPOSED CONTROL BOARD FAVOURED SUPPORT FROM DEVONPORT The scheme for the setting up a. j Provincial Water Board, an enabling ! Bill for which is to be placed before i the House this session, is to be supported by the Devonport Borough Council. The chairman of the committee or- ! ganising the board. Mr. E. IT. Potter, was present by invitation at the council meeting last evening, and outlined the scheme to set up a board. This body would have to make surveys and obtain information as to the most economical source of supply for water, but the tentative scheme, which had been selected, would bring in water to the city for a * total outlay of £700,000. These figures had been confirmed by inquiry among firms dealing in such matters. The price included the cost of a reservoir at Birkenhead and a pipeline to the Xorth Shore, but this would not be constructed unless the Shore wanted water. If the Xorth Shore helped to up a board and the board bad water to sell, the Shore could, when desired, buy from the board. Mr. Aldridge, Mayo** of Devonport, said if the borough t d not have to pay more than its share of the cost of promoting the Bill before the House and was not under obligation to buy water, there could not be any objection to supporting the Bill. Cr. Hislop said he felt keenly the position the local bodies around the city were being placed in regarding water supply; a board seemed tlie only solution. Cr. W. S. Campbell claimed that water was more essential than roads, railways and electricity, which the Government controlled.

Cr. T. Walsh said at present the only issue was whether the Shore should co-operate with other bodies in setting up a. water board.