SEEKING REPRESENTATION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 153, 4 August 1914, Page 10

SEEKING REPRESENTATION.

NEW BRIGHTON AND TRAMWAY BOARD.

Apparently a small section of the electors of the New Brighton Borough is not satisfied .with its representation On the Christchurch Tramways Board. At the ineetiug of the board yesterday afternoon a deputation from the New Brighton Borough Council asked that New Brighton be constituted a separate district, with a representative on the board. The deputation consisted of Mr H. J. Ashley, who apologised for the absence, through illness, of Mr C. 11. Winny, Mayor of New Brighton. Mr Ashley stated that he had a petition, signed by 150 residents of New Brighton, asking for the constitution of a separate district of New Brighton and adjacent districts, with a separate member of the board.

Mr C. M. Gray: Why do you want a separate district f Mr Ashley: On the ground that the population of the district has grown very much. The residents also have an idea that they would get better attention if they had a direct representative for the district;. Mr Gray: »du see what the proposal will probably lead tof Every district that has had an increase of population might make a similar request, and there would be no limit to the membership of the board. At present our 'membership is limited by the Act. Mr Ashley admitted that it might be necessary to have an alteration in the Act.

Mr Sykes: Don't you know that New Brighton is represented by the Oliver Twist of the Board?

Mr Ashley did not'--understand this remark.

Mr Sykcs: Mr Flesher is always holding put ; the New Brighton porridge pot and asking for more and more and more, to the detriment of other districts.

Mr Pearce: Is this not a matter over which we have no control, Mr Chairman?

The chairman (Mr J. A. Flesher): Yes. The constitution of the board is fixed by statute. A third of the members of the board were on the original conference which settled the boundaries of the districts for the constitution of the board. A Bill was then promoted, fixing the boundaries, which have never been altered since, except by some districts becoming absorbed in others. Mr Flesher quoted some population statistics, showing that <in the city district, which has, five members, there is a population of 80,000, or 16,000 per number. The New Brighton bdrough had a population of 1990. If the representation on the board were in proportion to New Brighton's request there would be forty or fifty members.

After some > little discussion the petition was ''received."