GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16141, 20 February 1918, Page 10

GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

MEETING AT SPREYDON. ADVANTAGES TO THE BOROUGH. ■ , Addresses • tin' the;-Grfeater Christchurch scheme and how it would affect 1 Spreydon were given, to a well-attended j meeting of the Spreydon Burgesses' Asj sociation in the Selwyn street Methodist schoolroom last evening by Crs. T>. G. Sullivan and A. S. Taylor. Mr W. H. j Wiusor, Mayor of Spreydon, presided. I ' In pointing out tho advantages that j Spreydon would gain by joining the | city, Cr. Sullivan said that large areas 1 could always operate more cheaply thau i small ones. When a new area went into I tho city the cost was more to the city I than the.resultant revenue, but, nevertheless, it would reap all tho benefits, and necessary, works would be carried out by the city without regard to that area's financial position. The standard of work also was higher and cheaper under a body like the City Council than I under local administration. By join- , ins tho city, Cr. Sullivan went on, ' Spreydon would share the inestimable : advantage of the city's fire protection scheme. Superintendent "Warner had . Raid that tho only solution of the fire j protection difficulty in outlying disI xricts was for them all to come into the city. Spreydon. would soon bo faced ■with the necessity of securing an adej quate water supply, and as part of the 'city it would derive the benefits of tho city's fine supply. a sewerage scheme for Spreydon woulu mean a cost | of £92,000, with an annual charge of £>5680, which would be an impossible • proposition for Spreydon ratepayers by • themselves. It -would be far better were the whole sewerage scheme cenj tralised, and tne city bore the cost. In : conclusion, Cr. Sullivan urged that it j would be all to the residents' advantage ■ wore Sprevdon -to join the city. Cr. Taylor said that the local government scheme was a laudable one, bub small local bodies could not carry, out great works. Spreydon had reached that stage where city government was necessary. Better communication betw'een Christchurch and the. sea was a | subject ivhich must receive urgent consideration nfter tine war. and the schemo would present fewer difficulties w?. 1 "® there one united Christchurch. The | matter of communication with the sea would, -within the nest decade or two, j become one of life or death to the Cl ty- i and in future the union of all parts of Christchurch would be absolutely essential to the welfare of Christchurch generallv. The question of municipal quarries was another which could not be delaved much longer, and when they were secured, all parts of the cjty would benefit. "When a new district joined tho eitv ii came under the city's bylaws, but if thov were found irksome to j any Vpt-cial district, then they were , remedied accordingly, as far as that ■ district was c-oncerncd. At >th roifrcncc to the electrical supply, Cr. lnylor

I said tliat the people of the cityywero now paying 3d a unit. Spreydou:residents paid 6d on a flat rate. If Sproydon joined the city, it oould eithfer-ro-tain its present syste.m or join iß'tho city 'scheme. Moreover. Spreydon ratepayers were paving a rate* on the,electric loan arid the city was not. • Or. Taylor concluded that ChristchtfrcVwal ono of tbo most efficiently administeroa cities in the Dominion. The speakers answered a large.'ntttnber of questions, and were eventually accordod. a hearty vote.of thanks.