CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1641, 24 May 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Enin ay, Mat 23

A special meeting of the City Council was held at 7 p.ra., to confer with the Sydenham Borough Council as to the formation of the south side of the South town belt, to afford employment to those now in want of it. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs. Clifford, Lezard, Biustead, Gapes, Tremayne, and Wilson, The following wore present from the Sydenham Council—l Tis Worship the Mayor, Crs, Pavitt, Charters, White, Brown, Hall, and Andrews, The Mayor of Christchurch said he had requested the Sydenham Council to meet the Christchurch Council with a view to coming to some arrangement as to the channelling and forming of the south side of the town bolt, contingent on the Government assisting them as two years ago. They were perhaps aware that the unemployed had waited on him to attend a meeting, and he had done so. The only thing he could think of at the time to give these people work was tho formation, &c., of the belt. The Government had replied that tho only way for the unemployed to do was to apply to the various local bodies. Notwithstanding this, he was yet sanguine of getting some help from the Government if the Sydenham Council joined them in making a representation to the Government. There was no doubt that many were out of employment No doubt many of these were not used to pick and shovel work, but they would be obliged to do the best they could, Mr Walkden had informed him that the cost of the work proposed on tho belt was about £I7OO, and if the Government could find half, then the Sydenham and City Council might be able to find the rest. This would be better than the families going on the Charitable Aid Board. The Mayor of Sydenham said that tho reason they were there to-night was in pursuance of the request of a number of working men who had called upon him, and asked whether any means could be taken to give employment to them by the formation of the South town belt. This it was proposed to discuss at a meeting of the two Councils, when tho proportion to bo paid by each body could bo settled. If they could arrive at some amicable understanding they would be settling a vexed question, and finding work for those who were in want of it. He thought that they might have a free conference on the matter. He did not know whether the Council knew that the Drainage Board were putting pipes down on the belt, which had the effect of relieving that portion of tho borough very greatly. It seemed to him now that the Mayor of Christchurch might put something before the meeting. The Mayor of Christchurch said he thought if the Government came down with half the amount stated, the two Councils should contribute equally to the cost. He would like to see the work done from a sanitary point of view, for the benefit of the whole district, and he did not think that the expenditure of a little money should stand in the way of so desirable a work. Cr. Hall (Sydenham) thought that tho proposition of the Mayor of Christchurch was a fair one. The Mayor of Christchurch thought tho matter was one|in which they would have to give and take. Or, Gapes (Christchurch) said he thought it was as well to recollect that at one time half the belts were in the suburban municipal districts, but they were afterwards put under the control of the City Council. It therefore seemed to him that it was plain that the Sydenham Borough Council were entitled to do half tho work, still considering that the object for which they had met was to afford work for the unemployed he was prepared to give way. He would like to ask the Sydenham Council whether they would be prepared to find two-thirds of the coat if the City Council would find one third. His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch asked tho Mayor of Sydenham whether the Borough Council would join them in making a strong representation to the Government for assistance. His Worship the Mayor of Sydenham thought that this ought to be done, especially as the case was one of distress to bo relieved. Or. Wilson (Christchurch) said that he had been very lucky in drawing up a motion before leaving his room, which he thought would meet the case. The motion was as follows :—“ In the opinion of the City Council of Christchurch and tho Council of the adjoining Borough of Sydenham, in general council assembled, it is urgently necessary that employment should he afforded to the unemployed within the said city and said borough, and that within the opinion of both municipalities the Government should bo respectfully requested to contribute the sum of £1750 in aid of the two boroughs towards both municipalities for relieving destitute workmen, by employing them upon the south belt of the city, forming the boundary between both municipalities, which for sanitary purposes, in the midst of a largo population, is urgently in need of improvement.” He thought that something like this would have the result of settling a vexed question, and giving employment to a number of laboring men who were now wanting work, Mr Walkden said that only about £650 would be available for workmen out of this sum, the remainder being for channelling and shingle. Practically, therefore, only £650 would be expended on work which could be done by the unemployed. The Mayor of Christchurch said ho was afraid it would not be judicious to ask for £1750, the whole cost. They might ask the Government to grant them half the cost, the City Council and Sydenham Borough Council finding the remainder. Cr. Brown (Sydenham) thought that they should now test tho feeling of the meeting by putting the motion as to asking the Government for half. He was of opinion that the proposition of ths Mayor of Christchurch to request tho Government to give half the Cost was a proper one.

His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch Would suggest to Councillor Wilson that he should amend his resolution by inserting words asking the Government to contribute half the cost.

Or. Gapes said that he thought they should ask the Government to give them a subsidy of £IOOO, and the two Councils could find another £IOOO, thus expending £2OOO over the whole of their district.

The Major of Sydenham desired to point out that the channelling spoken of would not require so much skilled labor as had been spoken of. They would find that a good deal of unskilled labor could bo emplojed. Or. Gapes still thought the best way w'ould be to go to the Government and ask them for £IOOO, when the Councils could arrange to spend £2OOO on works which would give more employment to men. The Mayor of Christchurch said that Cr. Gapes must remember that if they asked the Government for £IOOO they must be prepared to get £IOOO between them. Now, it was questionable if the Borough Council of Sydenham could put their hands on £SOO Cr. Charters (Sydenham)—We have a credit balance, whilst the Christchurch City Council is overdrawn. The Mayor of Sydenhera siiid that had they been able to got money at 7 per cent,, to which they were tied, they should have spent £20,000 in Sydenham. Cr. Gapes was of opinion that the formation of the South (own belt would not afford luflicient work for unskilled labour. He trusted that Cr. Wilson would amend his resolution, so as to ask the Government for a subsidy of £IOOO. lie felt sure that £SOO each was as much as the Councils could afford.

Cr. Gapes moved—" That the Government be respectfully requested to subsidise the Czty Council and Borough Council of Sydenham to the extent of £IOOO, to a like amount being contributed by these bodies towards the employment of men out of work.” Cr. Lezard seconded the motion.

The Mavor of Christchurch said that as Cr.

Wilson had been engaged in drawing up resolutions for uu hour or so, it was only fair that Cr. Wilson should have a chance of his motion feeing put,

Cr. Gapes said ho was perfectly agreeable to this being done, but. ho wished to expedite the work of the Council. He did not see that

they should sit (here for an hour waiting for a Councillor to write a motion.

Cr. Wilson then read 'he following motion—- “ That in the opinion of the City Council of Christchurch and tho Council of Sydenham in joint council assembled it is urgently and essentially necessary that employment be provided for tho unemployed in the said boroughs for destitute workmen, and that tho joint Councils being willing to vote the sum of £SOO each tho Government be respectfully requested to subsidise the amount by voting a sum of £IOOO. These amounts to bo expended in channelling, forming, and metalling tho south side of the South town belt and other necessary works which are urgently needed as sanitary measures.” The Mayor of Sydenham seconded tho motion.

Cr. Gapes said he should press his amendment, ss bo felt that tho one moved by Cr. Wilson would fail of its object. Tho channelling put in the estimate would absorb a lot of money, and give no relief to the unemployed. He wanted to see works projected which would give the greatest amount of work to the greatest number. What they wanted was not to get work done, but to give employment to the greatest number of men who desired it.

Or. Wilson, at some length, emphatically contended that his resolution was immeasurably superior to the amendment of Cr. Gapes. Cr. Andrews (Sydenham) should heartily support Cr. Wilson’s motion, as he thought it would settle the greatly vexed question of the work on the South town belt. Cr. Gapes’ motion left the matter very vague, and did not settle it at all, so that they would have tho whole thing up again. Cr. Binstead said that the reason why Sydenham expected that the City should contribute towards the work at the South town belt was that the levels being taken for the exclusive benefit of Christchurch £2OO had to be spent by Sydenham. Again, the borough thought they were entitled to a share of the £750 contributed by the Government. On the part of Christchurch he felt bound to protest against the amount being spent for the benefit of Sydenham, and he thought that the ratepayers would be also. Tho Mayor of Christchurch could not see that the difference of £l5O should stand between their giving work to the unemployed and saving their wives and families from distress. They should not under these circumstances be too cheeseparing. Cr. Binstead said that was not the question. Would not the Christchurch ratepayers object to the money being taken away and spent for the benefit of another borough. If they wished to give work to the unemployed, then why not give them work on works for the benefit of the city. He thought that the Sydenham people would be rather astonished at the liberality now being displayed by the Christchurch City Council who had always steadily refused to give any money towards the formation of tho south side of the South town bolt. The Mayor of Sydenham had hoped that all that had gone before on this subject would be buried in oblivion. Crs. White and Brown (Sydenham) spoke in favor of Cr. Wilson’s resolution as being a method of settling tho much vexed quesrion of the South bolt. Cr. Clifford would support tho resolution if Cr. Wilson would withdraw the details of the works. Cr. Tremayne was in favor of tho resolution. Cr. Binstead would like to know, supposing the Government gave them the money, and the amount spent on the belt only came to tho estimate of the surveyor, how much would be spent of tho balance in Christchurch and how much in Sydenham. Tho Mayor of Christchurch did not think this question should now be discussed. Tho Mayor of Christchurch asked Cr. Gapes whether ho would withdraw his amendment. Cr. Gapes would decline to withdraw his amendment. Out of the £1730 which the work would cost, £3OO would be expended in material. The amendment was then put, with tho following result: —Ayes : Crs. Lezard, Clifford, and Gapes. Noea: The Mayors of Christchurch and Sydenham, Crs. Charters, Wilson, Tremayne, Binstead, Brown, White, Andrews, and Hall. Tho original motion was then put and agreed to. Cr. Wilson then moved —“ That tho resolution bo forwarded without delay to the Government, with a respectful request that it bo favorably entertained, and that from the urgent nature of tho case it be at once replied to.” Cr. Pavitt seconded the motion, Tho Mayor of Christchurch said that the unemployed had requested him to call a meeting at tho Oddfellows’ Hall, and he had fixed Wednesday evening next. Tho Mayor of Sydenham moved a vote of thanks to the Mayor of Christchurch for his having called them together on this occasion. His Worship, in acknowledging the vote, said that ho trusted a better feeling would grow up between the Councils in future.