DRAINAGE BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 53

DRAINAGE BOARD.

A confcivnc-c between representatives oi the city ai:<l suburban (.ouiicils tou.li ng tho proposed ab oi\:t.on of the Dunedin Dra.m-itjc Bond by the D-ineum City Council was held at the Town Hall on tho 23rd. Th,.*? i>articipating were: City Connor I—Ci-s1 — Ci-s I*. Eair, \\ . Uojwni? Stewart, Ruthpriord, Tapley. Shaddock, Saiii.a.n. (Finance Committee), Gilkison. and Wilson (specially appointed) ; North-East Valley — r.he Mayor (Mr Campbell), Crs Mcwat and Wilson ; Mornington — the Mayor (Mr A. H. Bridger) and Cr Simon; St. Kilda — Cr6 Ashton, Gore, and Camoion ; Ros* lyn — tbo Mayor (Mr Haaiel), Crs Mathe* son and Washer; Maori Hill— the Mayer (Mr Butterfield) and Cr Duncan. Cr Gilkison said he had prepared the following moton, but intended only to put the first clause : — 1. That the conference affirm 3 the

necessity of absorbing the present Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Board in the City of Dunedin by the City Council. ■' 2. That the Government be requested to introduce inco Parliament without delay a bill for such amalgamation. 3. That such biJl should provide: — (a) For the City Council to take over ■> all the sewers, drains, plant, appurtenances," machinery, and other things and appliances connected with the drainage of the City of Dunedin and suburbs by the City Corporation of Dunedin; and, further, the City Corporation to take over the present liabilities of theeakt Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Board. (b) F.or a loan of an amount to be • hereafter agreed upon sufficient to defray the cost of carrying out and completing the works of the drainage and sewerage scheme of the 'city and suburbs, such loan to have sinking fund. 4. That the City Council be requested to instruct the city solicitors to forthwith draft a bill embodying these pro-

visions.

Or Gilkieon trusted that they -would all agree "with him that the time had now. arrived for a, change as indicated to taka | place. He went on to explain the disadvantages of dual control, and then 6ea.lt with the' financial aspect, pointing out that the "City Council could raise money more advantageously tohan the Drainage Board. He moved— "That thir conference affirms the necessity of absorbing the present Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Boa,rd in the City of Dunedin by the City Council." After a lengthy pause Cr Tap'ey said he had been hoping that one of the suburban councillors would have seconded the motion. He did so pro forma. Cr Gilkieon had not mentioned the large sum of money that could be , saved in the salaries of one staff/ instead of two if it was pro* perly organised. -The matter being open for discussion, the Mayor of Roslyn (Mr Hamel) said that, white holding no brief for other boroughs, he believed it was pretty generally known 'that there was a desire to oppose the idea of the merging of the Drainage Board into the City Council. He wculd move as an amendment — "That a sub-com-mitteo be- appointed by ~this conference, to. consist of- three members from the City Ccuiicil and one delegate from each "borough .to confer conoerning this matter, and to 'report at a further *MinferehceT" He wished the City Council to_ understand once and for all thai the boroughs - -"ould not have taxation without representation. -

Mr Mowat (Cr North-East Valley) and. Mr Campbell (Mayor of Nortn-East Valley) supported the amendment. The St. Kikla delegates and Mr Bridger (Mayor of Morninstfon) said they were not empowered to vote on the question, but favoured th«> amendment. Mr Butterfield (Mayor of Maori Hill) eaid he was in a similar position.

As the result of a remark by hhe Mayoi of Dunedin,

Mr Hamel asked permission to. alter his amendment to read — "To consist of five members from the City Council." Tho amendment was carried, and the My.yor of Dun^din was appointed convener, to arrange time and place for the conferences.