MEETING OF ST. ALBANS RATEPAYERS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11486, 20 January 1903, Page 5

MEETING OF ST. ALBANS RATEPAYERS.

About 100 St. Albaas ratepayer* iMn» ded a meeting in tlw St. Albaxu Wcsiejati schoolroom lost night, when the Qrwtar. Caristchurch question was diawsad. Mr T. H. Davey, M.H.R., Mayor of B*. Afr bans, was in th* chair, and the members of the St. Albana Borough Council were alit present, together with M*sus V. Waymouth, William Been, A. >£. 6. Rhodes, and R, J£. MacdonaM. The Chairman said the St. Albaas Coun« cil did not intend to bring down any motion, but preferred to leave the matter sokly in the Uuads of the ratepayers, who could decide on whatever course of actionthey chose. He had with him the figures prepared by Mr Gucttry, and those by Mr Hulme, at* the request of the Sydenham Borough Council. He did not think, however, tbat the .rufepajors should be guided 'wholly and, solely 'b? figures, bub by consideration* of what ttoald be to the benefit of the people us a whole. Mr Davey then quoted extracts from Mr Hulme'e report in order to point out *»» differences between that report and the one furnished by Mr Qundry. Continuing, he said it would be far better to dJecttn . < the matter from an economical and social, rather than from an actuarial standpoint,' Cr. Hyde then moved—" That than meet* ing cannot see it would be of any benefit to the borough of St. Albana to join the City of Christchurch, unless we are- able to get better coneideratkm than that offered ; at present as it ie clear that we hay* much to lose aud little or nothing to gain." . (Applause.) In speaking to the he said that the St. AJbaa* rate- ' payer* bad been offered do induc#svait*' whatever by the city, and. nothing bed been held out to the borough w&iob would b« to its benefit. The rates in the borough; 1 ' were fairly high ar it was, but upon, amalgamation St. Albana would have to contribute more in rates, ostensibly on ac- , count of the better services and appointinert* provided. Whatever schemes were brought forward by the city, St. Albans, ,' if amalgamated, would have to contribute v , to the cost, and the chances were that \ the borough would derive no benefit. Th* expenditure of loan, /moneys would begift - 5 in the centre and work outwards, with the' ■>% result that 4be outride, boroughs would re- t oeive very little in return for the rate* "f contributed. Am it wm, St. Albane tn*,. | being well looked after,' and-'we|^-»'-T»^lfc*? : looked' 'after in the future.' V to th* manner in the poll wae d*v7 ;J mended, far tbe miethode -'oared of'coercion, ; and the- caavartmti«sil« Ki:'ol ployed to titton. for the poll were paid, tfentptwoa •;.;:s>s for" em&k 'eignstiu* obtained. varioae conference* and meeting*-tif/'-buflc , //:^:;:^ city. ■: &f«e'Xhe'Cb«nca : action their aawai, wwa fototd to ti» pe. s■■ y&B titjon diernsunding tl» QovernßMmt tubeidy nMneoSinent. '' to that under aeialeißialibft-, ■~' ' : . : -"$M- < <HOOnQ JUu^KvC'"*SaaNtlvl'* vvwftMl V^VBHDKI^-iW^^/*^* ; ' i^r, 9%i ■ -'*08P '' QußKnintt* :, '''vt?O■3Bß"-"' 1 -' toe -wSKepp* HTIH XBm W ;W«i»8- Ik *W»Wj -•W ft;2||Hj| :-»»i , -^-.»»--VK'.g!Mi-^?i'i , .-4--'- ; . : f^r i ;/''»';i||iL a jXiittii, «j_*ei,:>.j.vwjii»i'"^iHiv;hip!w | eee i -. v wwi>j|Hpi«*JiMSfsßi 'fin ''-tMjittMMiiK&43l>«BHHlaAß"3? jnLi&eiSi bould oompdri^;«toH.e; : bxto»fi 1 - %w' 1P w^w^ : <jwwm ■Mi| WW& rw*^y.P^rß.V y :. ; ;,B^/tiUtTe^3Spfli^^^^ vwibyn lit itibe \<?wifti#- : iTpMiA ! lliiilil

Wfc fcbe directors m&& they would not do thus, preferring to ask the city whether the cftiraie would have the ball retained in its pveecoit form as a city iuSL . Hβ hoped tb# xotepayerg of St. Albaa "srouH kwk upon the mertWT eeriously. • Mr F. Waymouth rnaSA he had been a resident in St. Aibsßß for 27 yean, and had aladvocated a Greater Christchurch. He hoped (ihat the ratepayers of St. Albaas tmmid look upon tiw question from a broad point of view, and not from a mere parochdal or ftnwiwwil point of view. It was Biseer nonsense to say that the city was thrusting t>be M&eme on tto tbe outside boxeugbs, and that the city was tbe only body to gain any benefit from the scheme. Mr Bidmsade contended that tbe matter siroald not be considered from an emotional or seatimenta! standpoint, but from conSBderatione o£ Lji.d. Or. Morgan said he could not conceive bow St. Aibana was to benefit muter a Greater Gh&tcaarcu echenie. He coneidercd a board of works should control the larger services, and tbe various local bodies should retain thtir power and identity., Xbere would ba some satisfaction in an arraagemtnt of tliat soft Mr R- M. Maodonald said the discussion Lad taken too much a turn of sixty-fourths of a penny. It -was not a question of the raising or falling of rates, but the people should look art. tbe question from the standpoint of what could be given in return for a larger income. If the people could em;ploy mem of standing, euoh as were employed in larger cities*, they would find it would be to their advantage. One cf the schemes thai would have to be considered shortly was that of an efficient water supply, in place of the present low pressure artesian system. The Canterbury Hall could not ba taken over unless by a vote of the ratepayers affected, and if Greater Christcburcb. •were carried on Thiuwday, the St. AU»a.m people would have a vctto on the question. Cr. Newt<xn said he favoured amalgamation, but still thought tliat a cectrat board thoulii control ilv,» largc-r sojTices. Cr. , Hyd'.- liiivins; the motion was put and lotyt by 23 riMH v> 21. A voS.I or tkuJi* u> the Cliaiiman dosed the meeting.