AMALGAMATION SCHEME

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24904, 18 June 1946, Page 6

AMALGAMATION SCHEME

NO OPPOSITION FROM RICCARTON

No further opposition to the amalgamation of the Christchurch Domains Board with the Christchurch City Council will be offered by the Riccarton Borough Council. Last evening the council received legal advice that since

it was the only body holding out there seemed little point in resisting further. Cr. O. D. Fraser, who represents the council on the board, said that the bill provided for the City Council taking over full responsibility for reserves, and that no levy would be made on the* council. . Cr. F. C. Evans: Have we got that in writing? Cr. Fraser: It’s in the bill. Amalgamation has been carried by the board, and it leaves all other local bodies out. _ To Cr. E. J. Bradshaw, the Mayor said that no formal objection had been lodged except at a conference on the matter. No representations had been made to Parliament. It was agreed to make no further objections. The next item on the agenda was a demand for £303 from the Doipains Board for the current year. After some discussion, in which it was pointed out that the board was in control until the bill was passed, a number of councillors suggested that payment should be made in proportion to the time elapsing before the board was dissolved. Cr. C. G. McKellar said dues should be paid only to that date. “We’ve been able to assist in preserving valuable civic assets in our parks and gardens, and it would be improper for us to quibble at this stage, especially since we will have no obligations in future and yet benefit,” said Cr. E. J. Bradshaw. “There’s nothing voluntary about us being left out. We are being pushed out by Mickey Lyons and Company.” said Cr. F. C. Evans.

When the Mayor said that rate demands would have to include the full levy it was agreed to collect the full rate for this year.