DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER.

Press, Volume IV, Issue 10064, 16 June 1898, Page 5

DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER.

The Premier was occupied all the morning, after hi 3 arrival in town yesterday, in receiving deputations at Warner's Hotel.

DRAINAGE BOARD MATTERS. The first deputation consisted of members of the Christchurch Drainage Board, other public bodies represented by" Messrs R. Hill Fisher, C. Palairet, E. Smith, G. McHaffie, F. Waymouth, H. G. Ell, W. W. Tanner, M.H.R., H. Mace, R. M. Taylor and E. Cuthbert.

Mr R. M. Taylor read the resolution passed at the last meeting of the Drainage Board with reference to getting legislation lo enable the Board to utilise £'27,000 of the accumulated sinking fund towards the completion of the drainage syetem, and also to obtaining from the Government a guarantee* 1 for the converted loan. Mr Taylor satd the Board had obtained a loan of. £200,000 for fifty years at 6 per cent., for the repayment of which provision was made by a sinking fund, which the Board now wished to release. The last price at which he had seen the debentures quoted was £128. The Premier remarked that if the shares were already at a premium of £28, the present holders would probably want £140 tor them.

Mr Taylor continued that the sum of £3112 had to be raised annually from the rural districts in addition to the normal charges which these districts wore fairly entitled to pay. The total income of the Board was £19,360 and the working of the sewage area was very expensive. The Supreme Court had ruled that in the event of a deficiency occurring in the sewage area the Board must strike a rate over both the sewage and rural areas alike. The Board had practised the utmost economy, and its only hope was an all round improvement in values, which, if continued, would materially help the resources of the Board. He asked the Premier to do something to relieve the rural areas.

Mr R. H. Fisher said they wished tho Government to introduce legislation to enable the Board to use the £27,000 of accumulated sinking fund towards the completion of the unfinished work. Mr H. G. EU, representing Spreydon, said that while that rural area was taxed it received no expenditure or benefits in return.

The Premier said the deputation knew as well as he did that there were serious difficulties in the way. They were asking him to do that for which he had been greatly condemned, viz., to seize the sinking fund. He did not think Parliament would pass the measure asked lor as the debentures wore unregistered, and the consent of holders would have to be obtained. The faot that the value of the shares stood at £128 showed that the security was a valuable one. They were asking him to do what was impossible. The question was, could Parliament properly give them relief and in what direction ? If the debentures wero registered and the debenture holders were willing to agree, something might be done. With regard to the rural areas, any interference with these or reduction of then areas would affect the security of the debenture holders. If one of their members brought in a Bill to increase the taxation on the central area with the object of relieving rural districts, he did not think the House would object to it. Mr R. M. Taylor pointed out that the work of the Drainage Board had benefited not only the immediate neighbourhood, bat a considerably wider area. Mr Ell, in reply to a remark by Mr R. H. Fisher, that he did nob altogether approve of the proposition to raise the whole of tha deficiency in the sewage area, pointed out that it was rather cool of the Board to propose to spend £27,000 of sinking fund, when £20,000 of that amount had been contributed by the rural areas. The Premier advised tho deputation to get one of the Christohureh members to take charge of a Bill in the House. MrCuthberb pointed out that a Bill to tax the central areas more heavily than the rural areas had been thrown oat by tho Upper House. Mr Seddon was unable to holdout further hopes, and the deputation withdrew.

SPREYDON SCHOOL. A deputation from the Spreydon SohooV Committee interviewed the Premier and asked that the Government would place a bath at the school, which would also be available for fire prevention purposes. The Premier promised to bring the Matter before the Minister in charge.

BOROUGH AND ROAD BOARD MATTERS.

A number of the same gentlemen, representing the Heathcote, Spreydon and Avon Road Boards, Messrs T. E. Taylor and G. J. Smith, M.H.R.'s f then waited on the Premier, introduced by Mr W. W. Tanner. Mr Tanner called tha attention of tha Premier to the fact that the constant conflict between Borough Councils and Road Boards led to muoh expenditure, which would not be the case if one of the party could not be compelled to pay l_?lf the cosU. Mr C. Burgess,, as ohairman of tha Road Board, corroborated Mr Tanner's statements. Mr G. McHaffie printed out that much of the trouble arose through small boroughs, with insufficient funds, tiiking charge of public roads. Mr Ell pointed out that in his district three Road Boards got on without trouble. The Premier said if Parliament was prepared to sit until Christmas the required alteration might be made. Tho Counties and Municipal Corporations Acts wero bulky Bills, and he was doubtful if the House would care to take the matter up. He considered the present arrangement inequitable, and proposed that a Bill should be brought in on private members' nights and read a second time, after which he would do what he could to help them.

ABATTOIRS AT ADDINGTON.

▲ deputation, also introduced by Mr W. W. Tanner, waited on the Premier object, ing to the erection of abattoirs at Addington. Mr Johnson pointed out that the capital value of the borough,was £195,000, and tho rates, including licenses and dog tax, amounted to £650. They asked that their hands might be strengthened in getting the district formed into a borough, so that tha erection of these abattoirs might beprevented. He pointed out that even at present they had cattle continually driven through their midst to the danger of life and limb, and in addition they had the nuisance of the evil smelling drainage from the present existing slaughtering. Mr Munnings referred to the meeting held recently at Addington, and explained what had been done.

Mr Efford said the matter had been taken up by a great number of the men who were working and living at Addington, The nuisance arising from the open drain already there was detrimental to health. He objected to the nuisance being increased by the addition of abattoirs.

The Premier said his views were that no abattoirs should bo erected in centres of population. It was wrong and cruel that they should be allowed. What should be done was that Christchurch and the surrounding boroughs should decide in erecting abattoirs for tbe whole general population, and in such a position that they would be of no .danger to public health. Disease was often spread which could absolutely be traced to tbe consumption of diseased meat, and whether it was for exportation or not there should bo inspection. - That would fall mainly on the local bodies separately. Much as he was opposed to the multiplication of local bodies, the case set before him was so strong that he would be prepared to grant them a borough. He would, prefer, however, that this should be taken as a last step. It would be nitioh better that the boroughs should join together. That the health of their children and themselves should be endangered was cruel, and he would bff no party to it. ' Mr J«hnson pointed out that it was suggested that the abattoirs should he placed on the railway line in the rear of the Show Grounds. Thiß would bo just as bad. The deputation thanked the Premies and withdrew.

AKAROA DEPUTATIONS.

While at Akaroa the Premier waa waited upon by two deputations. ■ Messrs Black,. Pool add Stewart, fisher* men, asked that » buoy bo placed aad -.£$

chains of cable laid down on the south side of the entrance to the harbour, to enable tho fishermen to remain at the spot in heaviu* weather than they could do at present. Now, as soon as it began to blow, they had to leave. With a buoy and cable to make fast to they would have better opportunities of fishing. Tlie Government assisted the farmers, and the deputation thought it might in fairness also assist fishermen. The Premier promised to place the matter before the Minister for Marine. He wished the men to show some confidence in the proposal, and believed that if they were prepared to find half the cost the Government would favourably crmsider a Subsidy of an equal amount.

The Mayor of Akaroa, the County Chairman, Messrs J. C. C. (Jebbie, Bruce and Coup, asked the Premier for improvement in the railway service to Little River, more especially for the carriaco of stock, and they suggested a mid-day s"tock train on a Tue»day. At present stock had to be driven. In the winter time, particularly, they often arrived late at the sale, besides the beasts being sometimes much knaoked up. As showing the increase in the stock driven, figures were quoted that in 1895 there were 220 cattle, 2 calves, 16,941 sheep and 251 pigs. In April nnd May of 1898 there were 14,317 sheep. The Premier, in reply, said that no one more than he desired to give facilities to and afford encouragement for settlement. He was not in charge of the department, but would place it before the Minister for Railways. He understood that the want of a Tuesday train was the great difficulty, and he thought he could fairly recommend that request to his colleague. He pointed out that the main difficulty with the department was the want of rolling stock, and the heavy demands now made on the locomotives. However, as far as he could, he would give them an opportunity of remembering in a pleasurable manner his trip to Akaroa.