WATER BILL OPPOSED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1056, 21 August 1930, Page 11

WATER BILL OPPOSED

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ATTITUDE AT ONEHUNGA The Auckland Provincial Water Board Bill encountered strong: opposition from the Onehunga-Manukau Chammer of Commerce at its meeting' last evening. The president, Mr. J. E. Green, in introducing the question, said the Onehunga supply of pure water from never-failing springs was one of the borough’s best assets, but that in the event of the Bill becoming law, the Water Board, would have power under the "Public Works Act” of taking those waterworks from the Borough Council. The result would entail a loss of £3,000 a year to the ratepayers, in addition to an increased charge for water. -N’© Water Board, he contended, could supply better water at a cheaper rate than what the residents were now getting. On Mr. Green’s motion it was unanimously agreed to thank Mr. W. •T. Jordan, M.P., for sending the chamber a copy of the Water Board Bill and asking him to oppose its passage in the House, or in the event of the Bill being favourably received to move the insertion of a clause, exempting Onehunga from its provisions. NO OBJECTIONS The president reported that as the result of interviews with the owners of land in the proposed metropolitan industrial area between Onehunga, Penrose and Otahuliu, the scheme was being favourably received. And so far no objections had been made to having this area of open country proclaimed an industrial zone under the rown Planning Act.” Already, said Air. Green, inquiries for suitable factory sites had been made, by some half-dozen industrialists. The executive committee of the chamber was authorised to continue negotiation* with the object of interesting city manufacturers in the proposal. It was decided to forward a remitto the Conference of Associated t hambers oi Commerce protesting against the ever-increasing levies im- j posed on local bodies by Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, and urging I the conference to offer suggestions for ! more economical means of coping with j unemployment. Mr. F. 11. Dodd, on behalf of the Ex- ! oer vicemen’s Club, announced that the ■ recent gala in Onehunga for the relief ! of ex-soldiers had realised JL SO. This amount, he said, together with the sub- ! sidy, would bo handed to the Borough J

Council to be applied in providing work for returned men. PROPOSED ROAD

The Pupatoetoe Progress League wrote urging the chamber’s support in a proposed new road through ilangere which it was contended would ease the traffic on the Great South Road and divert it through Papatoetoe and Onehunga. It was decided to invite a representative of the league to address the chamber on the proposal at its nex r meeting. Strong support was given to a proposal of the executive committee of the Associated Chambers of Commerce urging action by the Government. either by negotiation of a reciprocal trad© treaty or by increasing the duty on imports from the United States. It was. agreed that the growth of imports from the United States and the advantage taken of the British preferential tariff by the establishment of assembling plants in Canada together with the raising of their tariff against our exports compelled Xew Zealand to protect itself.

A resolution was unanimously carried urging: upon the Minister of Public Works the desirability of disclosing the names and Successful tenderers, and the prices accepted.