RURAL ST. ALBANS AND GREATER CHRISTCHTRCH.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11494, 29 January 1903, Page 4

RURAL ST. ALBANS AND GREATER CHRISTCHTRCH.

Now thai Greater Obristchxirch is practically assured, it in to bo ho-ped that no hesitation will be felt by the Government in granting the .petition of the. ratepayers in the rural area of St. Albaus to be severed from the existing borough and joined to the Road Board district, in accordance with tbedr wi.nhes. It has been shown that the objection raised that the seceding ratepayers would be shirking their share of responsibility for the loan is without foundation, seeing that they are not wibhin tho loan area, and consequently are not liable at tlie present time. Living in a purely rural district, itiheir intereKi.s are manifestly more an common with those of the road board, and there would .be an obvious injustice in making them contribute towards the rates of the city. As population expands, and) the district gets built over, it might be to ifoo interest of the .residents .to join the city, and it would then be open to them to invoke the powers given in the Municipal Corporatione Act for that purpose. At the present time, ■however, they are quite content with the local government provided by the Road Board, and tiheir wishes iin the matter ought to be consulted.