GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11496, 31 January 1903, Page 7

GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

MEETING AT WALTHAH-

AMALGAMATIOJf FAVOURED.

poblio meeting to dfacun tie Qre»Uc Qhirietelrarda •aheme, called by tb« euppocteni of tbe xnoTcmeot, «m belli in tfae WaSfahwai laefc OwaoUkir MaMoekan m ia tine dwar. and tfatra wm * i«Tge •ttestduaoe at Sydenham electoM. Hμ (.theirmnn explained tiat ha wae oppoaed to tiie proposed pooling of aseeta to form a section of the terms of amala^mat' 4 Mr Gundjy had shown that syd«i»hAJn -would loae cocaiderablT by such Mrßutterfidd said there was only a difference of l-64th of a penny between Mr Gundry's figures and Mr Hitlnie'e. He con•iderod it an illegal act for tho Sydenham Oouncil to employ an accountant without the consent of the ratepayers. Tdie t/uairinaxi, in reply to Mr h'M, M.H.R., stated that rents from the Sydenham reserve amounted to £598 yearly, while <ihe City reserves yielded £1540 annually.

Cr. Parsons moved—"That tkk meeting is ia favour of SydeJihaa* forming part of Greater Ohristelmrch." He said if till the reserves were pooled taat \v«uld be a, fair arrangement, i"s>r tho. resctw* had. twen granted by t<be General Gowruiuciit. The increase of rates appeared, to lx- the givat trouble in tin? way of amalgamation, buttlw rates would increase in auy ease*. «.n account of the socialistic trend of legi.<!aticsi. Hf tiiouglit it would be better if tiw kik>s wouM rise, provided, good value were obtained for -lie money. (Hear, hear.) The Ghriatohifcrci.. -tee had always been a little highej - than Ju v late*. A Voice: 'They liave beou double.' , Cr. Pars mi s: "Hal iliey hiivt , gut good valui! for their moucy." iApplau.'t , .)

A-Voice —"They Lave nut. Look at their kerbing nnj channelling: it is ronton."

Civ Parsons, continuing, said truyt. Ui<: Chostchurch roads wore k-tpt :ii a. better condition tlian the Syd-enluusi load-s. Mi Hulme could net quote figures to show thai Sydteabam would losa by refusing tt> join Greater Ghristehuroh. " AH )k< cot/d do was to object to the inclusion oi' die tieslruu' tor ac a contingent liability- It would have been •* good thing for Sydenham if it cottod have had tdie use of the city dc&lructor, instead of following the present methods. Mr G. T. Booth, who seconded the motion, said that tie promoters of the eelwmo must be considered to be the members oi the committee called together by the present Mayor of Christohuroh. The motive that inspired Sir Wigram and the Committee was pure patriotism—to make t<he city a place desirable to dweU in, and one that would compare favourably with other colonial oitiee. Shortly put. tlie Gommitifcee hoped the scheme would enable the district to oentadiee ita municipal administration to the beet advantage. The opposition to the scheme had been remarkably weak and half-hearted, and where it was not specious, it was bawd on misunderstanding. A feai bad been expreascd that tihe system of rating ■would not oe a fair one, and that one district liable to heavy burden* would seek to •addk the other diebriota with a jato* responsibility in ewe of amalgamation. That was not so, for each district tihat had ndsed hum in apecM objects would be alone r* ■powdble for thoM loan*. The larger wo»*b, however, which were for the bensfis of the whole district, would be paid for b* thewhoiedijtoiot. IkikeirUi.di aa traaw, etafrio lighting, and water Monlr would probably be VKpportiJISSS if they were not, the would w owr good vakw tor tine ntea they paid. Or. Itaaeter badstatedUs* mdwembiv ■•twntta oos* of •dniafatmtkm moreaeid by some £800. Hs did not think fiIOOO '. y«r io, .i: The t«bki of the aocounUot* a3l b«mgit together in tab^fTaarTl v, Unriatohurch etood u> lose a email amoont, and Sydenham to gain a anuhS amount, bet th« «aoont r« io «m*fl th*t rt m not worth tafctog into cy de *«» I*hn>w1 *hn>w 1»to the pool •*• fiß^»», *>g a toW «< £875. Lbnrood poolwl £50 rents ed St. Alban. fiS «w rwte and £94 fcr lioeniee. 34. «££ lad licentee Avm th««e thwe boronrfui uioaAted w £MOf »imuaUj. TlMOklSk SS "»»• •WBftt.d to £1348, liottma £2011. anctloneeni and pawnbrokw , lee* . ld 'SS! ,, Ucmmtm £Sf7B . « • tbtot of £6373. Thtrefow Chn»tokw«h poaUd mow (bait fftt tiauw v moch «• the three borough* put together. {Applwwe.) 'Hα statement in the report of the Committee of the Council that when amalgamatioa vu carried no adjuttneiit of acoposte oould take place waa not correct, for ample provision waa tnade in the Municipal <Jorporatione Act of loet ewtion. If bargaining were wanted,; it should have taken place month* ago when the scheme wax fint put before the elector*, but it wac too late now to object. The quattion oi the drainage rate* would cot be affected !)y Greater Chrwtchurch, for the nlee woqld go on just the *ame. Sydenham would have her repreaentatiTe on the Central Council, and any grievances would be taken tip by these repreaentatzv-M. He felt •ure that -old and faithful servants of the ■mallei' Councils would atill be retained in their employment by the Centra] Council. The choice to be nwj* on Thursday waa one between old and tbe new. He wa* rare that Sydenham would not disgrace iUett by bewg content with atagnation, but felt confident that the vote would be cast in favour of Greater Ghrutchucb. (Applause.) Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.8.. aaid he wanted i to answer a queetion prenriowily asked 'him aa to what tbe motive of the City OonneJi was in promoting the Greater Ctkiietcburcb scheme. He could not «ay what tbe mo-, tive of the City Council was, but lie eonid «ay that tbe motive of the promoter* of toe scheme woe that amalgamation would be for the best interests of the comfcined tricts. He believed that on Februaty. 4u» the promotem would hay* the great plea, sure of congratulating themselves on tt» mxcotmi of the poll, (Applause.} Speaking upon the advantages o* amelgaaMum, Mr EU pointed out how much better it would be to have on* flns brigade tTAtem that would eerve tbe whole combined die- * trict-H(Hear, bearMoMead of eerenU email independent brigades. Stations wooM be required in the suburb*, and tbe pnnestt Sydenham «rtation would bo needed for tnf> purpose. Be hoped also tha* * hmacfe library and lecture haU would be established in the Sydenham munfcipjtl k*Utfings. (Hear, bear.) The area of the combined district*, eaine 4600 acre*, vtiidPt unwieldy, and was by no meant too Uuft*. Tbe population to the future worfd t»crease in tbe mburbs only, and the rottay power would conae/iuently be etuu«dl. wf suburban rwideoto. Hβ hoped th* qwHrtlsß, of rates would not weit(h with them, f»* destractor bad been built to serve the whoie - dietriot, and Qrdenham woold derive a direct advantage by being pact femeih fl the conown.' Each district wotOd h»»» *» pay it* own overdrafts aod loam, mo «*•*•' ootid not be brooght into tbe tion of the •cherae. It vw shew* to M» that the aty wi*b*d to be jeered of •Wβ* at it* burden* by amalgajQaiinf wi% ijs* imburbe. To vote Onebe* Christeborch'on toe 4th wcnM l» one ef tiw bed id* t&at Sydenham wotJd bare. done. (Applaow.) belt to a diegraoo, a** .. msmc» ttniV eance existed in CoioeAo st*eefc» east no satisfaction oould be obtMsed from the CWciL E« asked wb«t wen tb* CboeU doinsct - .it V«c*-"Tiviiui In the km ef Q»Me» C*rißtdwrcb.. M (Laugbter.) . ' GmKJosißf, Mr BotUriteld mid tini «* ti Conncil had bees losing «S*i mtemnenAr money "hand over fist. , * (Omi of Te«< and "tfo" and" uproar.) Some £SOQ w*# losfcoittbe wWI wi*ai Ad*ne*o»,wWe>i: was ueekM, and a farther £360 by *•***• r of the akeratioß el Q» flaM for be* ■'- mvnidpsJ building*, At Tβ} «i«B» s f«ssA^

not require any £m*Ber orgafoiente to induce tihoee ipreaent. to vote for Greater Ghriatohurch. (Hear, bear.) The problem for all legislators wae to make the best of existing oonditaanß, and the Greater OhiisU church movement <waa one tending in this direction. The zunAber /A large works that ■wcnild be tarried oat under amalgamation (would depend opon ibx»w much the people *rere prepared to spend. The fact of the trabttrbs joining toe dtv would have tie effect of making tJ» deStrnctar pay. It was only by ftmalgaßuatacai and the carrySag out of large worke that first-claw exgwrte could 1 be enwployeid l to inaugurate new works. Or. Jones gaid that Greater Obxistchurca ivould be disastrous to Sydenham, but he admitted that •ioalgaination was neoeewwy in order carzy out large works. None of the schemes mentioned would ■be more euoceeefol than the Greater' (Jhrietchurch •cheioe. (Applause.) After amalgamation had been agreed to, experts would join to adjust the accoKnts, and would decide upon what ehould be paid by each section of the combined district. Lvery provision was Jna<ie in the Act that fair play should prevail all round. In case of dispute the Auditar-(reneral would act as arbitrator. There was not much chance of there Doing ■my increase in the rates so long as Syi-ci:-hua went on as at present* but if it deokled lupon local works, it would have 'o pay for them. Mr Morrison advised tiie Sydenliam electors not to oppose the i ecbeme, eimiply becatnse the Council opposed! it. He liad it on good authority that certain employees of the local Council were <yuivas#ing pforte of the district to oppode Greater Oliristchurc.i, thes? men thinking. perhaps, ttiat a» a result of amalgamation they would lose their positions. Suctli a result, he was sure, would not take place, and the present employees would receive ennploysnent under the Central Council. Mr J. J. Parker &aid tiiat many people Ihad been misled by the statement that only ratepayers could vote. He hoped that tiais matter would l be cleared up. The .motion was then put and carried, with six dLsyentients.