GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11498, 3 February 1903, Page 5

GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

THE SYDENHAM CAMPAIGN.

ANOTHER FAVOURABLE MEETING.

A meeting ni held in tfo Druids' Hall, Sydenham, last night, to discuss tiw proposals in connection with.: Greater Christ church. There vu a larje attendance, fax eluding a number o! ladki. On the motion of Mr H. G. £11, M.H.R., Mr B. P, Manhire, ex-Mayor «f the borough, urm elected to the chair. In opening th« meeting, the Chainaax laid that the promoters informed him thai the meeting would be a fi«e one, and opei to the adherent* for and against amalga niation. He, himself, as everyone knew True what was cidled an opponent, but h< was not above being convinced. (Applause). One of the audience asked who had called the meeting. The Chairman said he did not know, and hi did not see that it mattered much. The questioner said ho only wished tc know if the Sydenham Council had called it Mr T. E. Taylor, M.H.R., eaid thai in younger countries, as contrasted witb older countriee, the tendency wot towards over-government, and he pointed out thai if the people, of Great Britain were represented in the Houee of Common* a the same proportion as toe people of New Zealand were in the House, of Bepreientatives, Westminster Hall -would have U t>3 enlarged eeveral times to accommodate the members. He had been amused at tin assiduous manner in whiith Sydenham bad been courted on the question of amalga matlon, and if ehe rejected the advance* of Christohurch, St. Albpns, and Linwt«od on Wednesday, th*n she would Ik the hardest-hearted'spinster he had «*«> heard of. (Laughter.) In hk judgment the marriage could only bring about tlw very best possible results. (Applause.) He considered the cviticiem ol the Sydenham Councillors had been much toe severe. When elected they had been returned as opponents to. Greater CnnsV church, but at that time the matter had not been so fully di* cueeed as it hod since. Consequently, the ratepayers could, in the light of new facta, reverse tiheir judgment. Sydenban had been uncommonly well governed in tin poet and he did not know of any borougt in tine colony tibat had done better or givei greater satisfaction to ito ratepayers, but the tdme had come when Sydenham shoiuc coane into Hne and become part of tHie most impoeifont dty in New Zealand. (Ap pkure.) They need tun fear that tbej would kse any power of government bj aenalfamatidn. With St. Albone and Linwood, Sydenham would have a majority 01 ifche Council, and he could not imagine thai Sydenham would stand alone in the even! of a diapute with the city, or fail to eecun the support of St. iDbans ami (Linwood, whose infcereete were practically identicai with those of Sydenham. The financial ■aspect of the question had been very weli threshed oat. > He had carefully etudiec the figures of the accountants, and he die not ttonk ibey need have th* slightest feai a« to tiw financial mute of amalgamation, But apart from these figures, no bushiest man could tell ham that livrge quantities ol material could not be purchased cheaper thai smeller quantities He instanced the caw of the price of tor, which had risen from 8 fraction to sixpence a gattun, and Mid thai ■was due to municipal competition. He hac been told that the Mayor c>f Greater Christohurdh would receive a salary of £5000 pel annum. (Laughter.) If«», they would ai be candidates. He iwas opposed to "gnws ing thn fat sow," both in regard to t&uricipal and general government salaries. Probably aatiatanta to the town clerk wonk have to be appointed, and he recognised that the men who did the work should receive the salary. (Applause.) They could not tell him of a single public servici ,in -which each borough was not equalN interested. Was there one public servicj 'chat, Tinder amalgamation, the city was likely to grab at the expense of Sydenham? He had: been unable tc find one. They could not prevent the trend of population to the city, said v w~at case they" should put forth every effort to make their city ac -perfect * place oi abode as it cculd be made. A year ago he might not have been a warm supporter of amalgamation, but he bid since seen the effect of amalgamation of municipalities and the concentration of municipal effort. If Greater OhrMchnrch bteame an accomplished fact, Christcburch would become a city second to none in New Zealand, probably second to none in Australasia. H« believed that im Wednesday the vote oi Sydenham would be in favour of union by a large majority. He movsd—'"That in the opinion of this meeting of burgesses of Sydenham it is desirable that Sydenham should become a part of Greater Christchurch." (Apidause.) Mr H. G. Ell, M.HJt., seconded the motion, and referred at length to the results of munidpol amalgamation in England, and to the etsps being taken in other cities in New Zealand and Australia to extend their boundaries. He believed that Sydenham would carry (onalgamation by a larger majority than tho other boroughs had carried it. Hβ referred to the numerous advantages which wouH accrue to the borough if amalgamation took place, amongst these being a pablic library and the purchase of the gasworks. Spreydon would come in if the pot was carried on Wednesday, and with that district joined to Greater Chrietchurch a lovely road could be laid off along the river Heatncose. He concluded by impressing oit the electors tlw importance of registering their votes on Wednesday. Mr Bilcliff hoped that the result of the discussion on Greater Cluistchurch would be in the direction of groater interest in municipal matters. He epoke at come length in favour of amaJgiuiuition. The only argument brought against the proposal was that Othello's occupation -jrould be gone. Mr O&tes said he wa*' on employee of the Council, but he could get work outside. Mr Bilcliff Bald he did not intend, insinuating that any of the Council employees would be di/speneod with. Mr Oates—''What made you say I would lose my billet?" Mr Taylor remarked the.t Mr Bilcliff had said that Othello's occupation would be gone. Was itihe speaker's joame Othello? Mr Oates, amidst laughter, said & was not. Continuing, ihe eUitel that be did not thick much of any Syden-liam resident who ran it down. Them was m<>re filth and dirt in Christcburoh than in Sydenham—(Lcughter) —and -tiher wanted Sydenham to come in and dean up tiheir dip;. (Appkuse and laughter). The city wee in a fog, was in poverty bay (Applause and loud laughter) —and «v cm toe rocks. In five yean, -if Sydenham joined the ctfrr, the rates would be doubled. (At ibis stage tie speaker became somewhat) excited, and stamping the platform wxtfe h» foot, called out "Sydenham for ever." This elicited more laughter). AU they heard, be continued, was of what whs to be dor» in Chrietdmroh.; they did not hear of what w«s to ba done in ih» suburb*, bat tho sabajfcs would , have to pay for it (Laughter). The ratepayers of Sydenham -wonkl i» caught in a. tree, if they amalgamated, iind would not be able to get out df it. (Afjpinue and laughter). He advised them to cooeider the aoatter carefully, and to vote for the right cause. Mr O. T. Booth, -who waa reoatwd wkh applause, said he wim glad die* Mr Oates had spoken, becsase he bad mad* the best Rpeacb in farour <d Greater dviatchensh that he (Mr Bootlx) bad ye* beard. (Appl«»e). It she Christohuroh atrteU were to s> tod waj, and the nhsnnsls waotsd rippia« in>, aodtfae -liH and fitth removed, wen tbe Sydsafaßßi jmtopU were just tiie (Appkww, aod kuafater). in Syderfiain they £iad got ev*ryu3eg in gjg*gfe Wler. mA nbm* Joineef tbe , otj they would sea that tlw city straets Jjerskept m clean, as ibmx mm. Tbdr Oiatnasa at a> pnrrion* mwtuig imd asked Hf Pnaeaey eeoMol Greaier Christeharcb sad heihwehi |» ooeld Ml him *fttt it im. Tb. jßaotas wo-

•Mend that the tine bad *niT«I vhm * was desirable that a forward step should be taken. There were several large inunicfyel uadert«l(Sngß wbub, would bar* to be dealt wttb. fcefore long, suck as the xdiliMWon end distribution of electrical power proposed to be- obtained from the Waimakariri, the electric lighting of the city and suburbs, and the ineuSatloa of a high pressure water trapply scheme. These undertakings, it was believed, would be mnch more easily and efficiently managed if the city and suburbs were amalgamated into one than if they continued as at present. In addition, it was contended that the ratepayers of the amalgamated borougiis would get better value for their money than at present. There bad been practically no opposition to these arguments, and most of the objections raised -were too trivial to deserve consideration; whilst of the other objections', She kindest thing that could be said them was that they were based on mjsunderstandings. The* time had come when the ratepayers had to exercise their juVlgment between two alternative, and' 'to choose between the old and the new*.}' Hβ jointed out the work done by the pioneers in municipal enterprise in the city and suburbs, and impressed on the audience the necessity of continuing the good work they had , inaugurated. They most assume the civic duties handed l down by thoee who had established the oity and the boroughs, and moke Christchurch » city worthy of the namt. Sydenham people had never yet looked backward, and he did not think they would do so now, but •would caet an overwhelming vote in favour of Greater Christchurch. and progress. (Continued applause.) The Chairman asked if any others wished to speak, and there being no response, he said that with roost of the arzumetita brought forward he entirely agreed. He thought, however, that the Council fhould have placed before the ratepayers clearly the direction in which tiie rates might I* increased. He pointed out that the borough was already committed to a large expenditure, and if the schemes outlined by the various speakers that night became accomplished facts, it would result in the rates being increased. The question was: "I« Sydenham prepared to tax itself for these works?" ~~ Mr Booth pointed out that the schemes proposed would be self-supporting, and would pay for themeejyes. The. Chairman said all would be satisfied if the tramways padd -in the next ten years. The motion was then put and was declared carried by a large majority amidst applause. • ■ Mr Taylor, in proposing a vot« of thanks to the Chairman, pointed out that if they bad more municipal meeting* they would know more about their own affairs. As to the possible increase of taxation, be pointed out that the Gas Company at present did not know what to do with its profits in order to conceal them and maintain the present charges. Did they think the tramway system wu not of any worth to. ite owner? Would they not like to be burdened with the profits of these concerns? At present {Be people were the milch cow oi tbe Gas and Tramway Companies, but under municipal ownership the profits derived from them would go in the reduction of taxation, and not hi ite increase. The vote of thanks was carried by acclamation, and the proceedings closed.