DRAINAGE BOARD MATTERS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8780, 28 April 1894, Page 9

DRAINAGE BOARD MATTERS.

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES.

The adjourned meeting of delegates from local bodies to consider matters in connection with the drainage of the district was held in the Municipal Chambers last evening. There were present: —His Worship the- Mayor and Crs. Gray, Payling, Thomson, Swarm and E. Smith, Christchurch City Council; the Mayor and Cr. Jones, Sydenham Borough Council; the Mayor and Cr. Hopkins, Woolston Borough Council ; the Mayor and Cr. Wilson, Linwood Borough Council; Messrs H.-J. Hall (Chairman) and N. Ellis (Overseer) Riccarton Road Board; Mr C. Burgess (Chairman), Avon Road Board; Mr X Cuthbert, Secretary and Engineer to the Christchurou Drainage Board; Messrs G. W. Russell, W. W. Collins and J. Joyce, M.H.R.'s. Apologies were received for the absence of Mr Geo. Mclntyre and Mr A. Wiffen.

The Mator of Christcuurch wae voted to tbe chair, and explained some of the reasons why the Conference had been called.

The Mayor of Woolstos explained that he had written to the Drainage Board, asking for information. Hβ had received copies of the Board's balance-sheets for 1836 to 1893, and estimates for the current year. The Board stated there was no intention to apply for increased rating power. Upon the information obtained, a report had been drawn up, which he would read.

Some discussion took place as to the form the business should take; whether the details of the management of the Board or the broad question of the relation of the Board to the local bodies, &c., should be considered.

Cr. Swasn suggested that as Mr Cuthbert was present he should be asked for certain information, so as to see whether they had any real grounds for complaint against the Board or not. It was decided to adopt Cr. Swana's suggestion, and Mr Cuthbert said he would be happy to answer any questions. He was there for the purpose of giving any information required. Several questions were asked, but exception was taken to the lime of the meetins being wasted in discucsiag details without any apparent definite object. After some further discussion, Cr. Hopkins was asked to repeat the statements he had made at the previous meeting as to an alleged saving that could be effected by delegating the powers of the Drainage Board to the local bodies.

Cr. Hopkins said there was a deficit in the sewage area of some £2462. The total rating power over the sewage area amounted to some £13,000, but the requirements were put down at £15,452. He considered that if the powers of the Drainage Board were delegated, the local bodies could carry out ita work efficiently. The deficit of £2452 was charged pro i at a among the rural districts, and he thought this was unjust. He complained that the item of £330 15s 6d, the cose of remission of the annual interest to London, was excessive, and said that in former yeara the item was only £150. The cost of inspection of rivers and drains, £175, would be unnecessary if the Board's powers were delegated. He would suggest that the Christchureh City Council take charge of the whole of the «ew»ge system. He con-

tended that the Drainage Board were endeavouring to -obtain increased ratine power, lie complained that the item of £10,023 uncollected rate 3in tha assets was misleading, ac allowance was not made for the uncoliectabie rates und an item of £1054 as due by the sewage area, which eouM not bo obtained, should not have been se:, down a≤ au ass*t. He contended that the Drainage Board was cuing to the bad, and were desirous of obtaining iucreased rating power over the sewerage crea. He moved as a recommsndatioa to the local bodies "That in canseqaence of the ratine; power 3 of the Draiuagc Board bei.-jg insufficient in several districts to meet the charges made upon them, namely, the iuterest upon loan aud sinking fund with the maintenance of the sowage system and the staff of the Drainage lioard:—l. It was expedient to obviate the necessity of getting inerea>ed rating powers ovar auy cart of tue district. 2. ThiiO the maintenance of the sewage system be taken over by the City Couucil, aud a.iy part, of the sewers ussd for the boneiit of the suburban district, such district so benetkad shall pay over to the City Coaucil the cost uf such maintenance pro ratx. 3. Each of the separate local bodies to take over the control aud maintenance of the arterial drainage within each of tlieir separate districts, viz., tha city of Ciiristchurch, ti>e boroughs of St. Aibans, Liowood, Sydenham, aud Woolston, and the rural Road Board districts of Riccarton, Avon, Heathcote, and Spreyclou ; (4) that in lieu of the present Drainage Board the Mayors of Christchiu'ch, St. AlbaiiSj Linwood, Sydenham, aud Wooiston, with the Chairmen of the Road Boards of Riccarton, Avon, Heathcote, and Spreydon, ipso facto, be the Drainage Board and arbitrators iv case of any dispute arising between two or more districts, and to make a levy in lump sums once in each six months upon each district for their respective portions payable towards the interest upon the loans, aud once ia each year in like manner for the sinking fluid, such amounts to be paid promptly to enable the Board to remit the money at the lowest rate; (6) that an Amendment Act be introduced iuto the next Parliament embodying the above resolutions."

Mr Cuthbert said he did not know anything about the item of £50 for rescission of interest, as that was before his time, bub there was now always an overdraft, and the money had So ba sent Home before the rates could be collected. The method now adopted of sending Home the money by telegraph was the cheapest by £10 that, they could adopt. Only about £100 iv rates could nob be collected in each year. He denied that the Board was seeking to obtain increased rating power iv the sewage area. The income of the Board was sufficient to meet all liabilities, but the income from the sewage area did not meet all the charges in that area, and the balance, some £2000, was made up b$ the rural area, us the Board were directed by mandamus of the Supreme Court. Owing to the necessity of extreme care being necessary iv the management of the sewaye farm, he had strongly urged the Board not to lease it. The expenditure of tiie Board had come down £6000 since 1884. He did nob see how the drainage system could be efficiently managed if the Board's powers were delegated. The local bodies weuld never agree over the control of drains.

Cr. Thomson - seconded Cr. Hopkins' motion.

Mr Russell moved as an amendment— 45 That Parliament be asked to amend the Christchurch District Draiuage Act in tl>e following directions :—(1) That the Sinking Fund bs abolished. (2) That the Drainage Board have power to rate any district to the amount necessary to raise its proportionate share of charges, interest and sinking fund iv agreement with section 2 of the Amendment Act of 1877."

Mr H. J. Hall seconded the amendment, and pointed out that the great reduction in the values of property in the city had put the Drainage Board out of all their calculations.

Cγ. Swasn said that if the Sinking Fund were dove away with there would be no need for increased rating powers, and they should confine their efforts to petitioning Parliament to give them power to do away with the Sinking Fund. .

Cr. Gray said that Cr. Hopkins had been hoist with his own petard. He had forced the Board to pay the sinking fund, and now the rural districts were crying out about it. He would point out that in seventeen years the city of Christchurch had paid some £160.000 in rates, which was nearly threefourths of the amount of the drainage loan. He would oppose any increased rating power being given to the Board.

Crs. Wilsox aud Jones approved of the proposal to do away with tho sinking fund, bub were opposed" to any further rating powers being given to the Board.

Mr" Russell "obtained leave to separate his ameudmeut into two parts.

The Mayor of Sydenham thought that, only representatives of local bodies should vote ou the question, and, further, he considered that the proposal to do away with the sinking fund should first be referred to the local bodies.

The first portion of Mc Russell's amendment was carried, seven voting : for it and none against, and the second portion was lost by rive to three.

Cγ. Hopkins' motion " was also put to the meeting, and declared carried by four to three.

Several of those pceseut, including Mr Collins, refrained from voting on the resolutions. The meeting then terminated.