THE CHRISTCHURCH DRAINAGE AREA.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10059, 10 June 1898, Page 3

THE CHRISTCHURCH DRAINAGE AREA.

A Conference was held at the office of the Selwyn County Council yesterday afternoon of delegates from the Road Boards in the rural area of the Christchurch Drainage district. There were present —Messrs H. G. EU (voted to the chair) and H. T. Johnson, J. Brown, Spreydon Road Board; W. Boag, J. Jackson, and H. Hanson, Riccarton Road Board; C. Burgess, Avon Road Board; and G. H. McHafSe, Keathcote. An apology was received from Mr J. Joyce, M.H.R. The Chairman said the rural area bodies suffered in the amount they had to pay in taxes to the Diainage Board to make up the deficiency in the sewage area from which they received no benefit whatever. The Riccarton district had to provide from £800 to £900, Heathcote £700, Avon £600, Spreydon £188. (Mr Jackson said that Riccarton contributed £1800 in taxes.) The Chairman admitted that, but he had only referred to the deficiency. The Drainage Board were moving, he understood, in the direction of getting a guarantee to remove the sinking fund and then it would be able to provide redress. He suggested that a private bill should be promoted. Mr Burgess said the deficiency was £2200. He held that we suffered from an overlapping of local bodies. A saving could be made by the amalgamation of boroughs and the conversion of loans at 3 yer cent.

Mr McHaffio thought that were city properties rated at a value in something like proportion to the amount asked for by owners for rent the rural districts would not have to find so much.

Mr Boag was of opinion that tke Conference should move fur the abolition of the sinking fund, and ask the Government to undertake the payment of the debentures.

On the motion of Mr McHaffie, seconded by Mr Jackson, a deputation of the Chairmen, or their nominees, of the bodies interested was appointed to join with the Drainage Board in interviewing the Premier for the purpose of endeavouring to have brought into operation the scheme of the Drainage Board for releasing the sinking fund, and guaranteeing the repayment of the loaa, jr reconverting it for fifty.