GREATER CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11511, 18 February 1903, Page 8

GREATER CHRISTCHURCH

THE REPRESENTATION QUESTION.

LINWOOD AND ST. ALBANS DISSATISFIED. A Conference of delegates representing the city and tho boroughs which have decided upon amalgamation, was held at the City Council Chambers last night to discuss the representation of the different districts on the Greater Christchurch Council. As proposed by the city in the scliemo submitted to the other councils, the representation was as follows:—Christchurch, six members; Sydenham, four; St. Albans and Linwood, two each. When the scheme was considered by the Linwood Council, exception was taken to, and an amendment made in, the clause dealing with representation. At the request of the Mayor of Linwood (Mr H. Pearce) the Mayor of Clirlstdiureh (Mr

I Wigram) called last nights Conference. The delegates pivsrent were:—Christchurch. the Mayor and Cr. Grey; Sydenham, the Mayor ! (Mr J. B. Sim) and Crs. J. Forrester and J. Hadfield; St. Albans, the Mayor (Mr T H. Davey, M.H.R.) and Cr. F." J. Barlow; Linwood, tho Mayor and Crs. M. S. Brown and W. H. Seed. 1 The Mayor of Christchurch presided. The Chairman said he was glad to welcome the delegates. There were some present who were averse to what had taken place, but he hoped, now that the will of tlie ratepayers had been-announced, they would pull together and endeavour to make Greater Christchurch a success. He had culled the Conference at the instance of the Mayor of Linwood, and he would call on him to place the matter before the delegates. Before the business prixeeded a minor question of representation arose. The Mayor of St. Albans wished to know why his Council had been asked to .send only two delegates, whilst there were tines present from Linwood. ft was explained that the original intention was that only two delegates from each Council should be asked to attend, but this had been altered, in deference to the request of the Mayor of Linwood, to three, and the different Councils had been advised on Monday by telephone of tho alteration. The Mayor of St. Albans said he had not been informed of this telephonic message. The Mayor of Linwood said his Council had passed a resolution calling the Conference, in order to discuss 'several matters in order that the different petitions, or the joint petition, might be pushed forward and amalgamation effected expeditiously. The issue placed before the Linwood ratepayers had differed from those put before the* City and Sydenham ratepayers, in that they were asked to amalgamate, provided Sydenham and St. Albans decided to do so. When the scheme proposed by the City was discussed by the Linwood Council the clause dealing with representation had been amended on the ground that it only gave one representative to each 3500 of the population. On that basis the population of the City would require to be 21,000, and of Sydenham 14,000, to entitle them to six and four members respectively. Consequently both tlie City and Sydenham would ba overrepresented, and Linwood and St. Albans under-represented. He considered this unfair, and suggested the alteration of the boundaries of Linwood by including that portion of Sydenham east of the railway line to Wilson's road in what would be the Linwood ward, which would equalise, things to a great extent. As regards St. Albans, he presumed that the boundaries could be altered to include a portion of Richmond. So far as the Linwood Council and ratepayers were concerned they did not wish to do anything to delay amalgamation. On the contrary, they wished to' see it brought to a successful issue. Their intention in calling tho Conference was to talk the matter over, and come to some arrangement that would facilitate amalgamation. The Chairman asked if Mr Pearce had any definite proposal to put before the Conference. Tlie Mayor of Linwood said he had not. His Council's idea was that the matter should be discussed by tlie Conference and some arrangement arrived at. The Mayor of Sydenham asked iFthe Linwood Council had taken into consideration that Sydenham had special loans on which a special portion of the borough was rated? The Mayor of Linwood said he did not think that would be a very great objection, seeing that most of the boroughs were similarly situated. Cr. Forrester thought the matter should not be proceeded with. He would certainly oppose any alteration of the present boundaries. When the Greater Christchurch proposals were before the ratepayers the question of representation was cleaiJy understood, * and it would be a great pity to disturb anything now, seeing that the poll had been taken <--» the understanding that the- representation would be according to the original proposals. Had it gone abroad that Sydenham's re-

presentation would be three instead of four the result of the poll would have been different. He would much prefer that Mr Pearce should not push the matter. Sydenham people would not agree to any interference with the original proposals. Cr. Gray pointed out that tlie representation for a time would be of a tentative character. The population in the different districts was continually altering, as shown by tlie periodical readjustment necessary in the Parliamentary electorates. St. Albans and Linwood were rapidly increasing in population, and it was only a question of time when by reason of that increase they would be entitled to additional representation. Some definite basis was required, and he failed to see that a better basis than one member for each 3000 of population could be suggested. He advised that they should wait for two years, when the representation could be adjusted. Ta alter the boundaries at present would be a great mistake. Cr. Hadfield thought, in bringing down a soheme of representtauon, something of a fairer and more far reaching character should have been proposed. ' He was not at all favourable to the boundaries being altered, as to do so would bring about friction and disturb the harmony which all hoped would prevail. He. contended that the question of representation had been fully discussed in Sydenham before the poll on the lines of the original proposals, and it was scarcely the correct thing now to endeavour to alter the boundaries. Cr. Seed said it was understood thatthis matter would be one for adjustment by conference, after amalgamation. Of course, tlie question of representation had i not been placed before tlie ratepayers as it, j ought to have been in order to ascertain if they agreed to it. He had worked out a ! scheme which gave the city five representatives', Sydenham three,- and St. Albans and Linwood two each. The Chairman'said the City had endeavoured to bring down a fair scheme of representation. Tlie scheme was submitted to the conference, and no alternative one was suggested. It had then gone before the people, who clearly expressed their opinion not only in the city but in the borough. The opponents of Greater Christ - cburoh had, prior to the polls, dealt with the question of representation, but despite this the electors had accepted the original proposals. He did net think the city would be domg justice to itself if the scheme were tampered with, and they were bound -o forward the proposals to the Governor. He had told the Mayor of Linwood that if he thought differently it was open to him to s*nd up a scheme, and that personally he would not interfere with it. The Governor-in-Council had a perfect right to consider any alterations to the scheme on their merits. He did not think any closer approximation could be arrived at than that proposed ; if it could he would like to know of it. The alteration of boundaries, he considered, would lead to complications. Any alteration in the scheme of representation must be- propounded by those wishing it. The Mayor of St t Albans said at a

decided to enter a most emphatic protest against the proposed representation. He was quite in accord with the Mayor of Linwood. that- neitner Linwood nor St. Albans would be fairly represented under the proposed scheme. All that St. Albans desired was to be fairly represented, and it behoved tho representatives of St. Albans and Linwood to see that the people of those uoroughs were fairly represented. As to the contention laat it would be undesirable to include Richmond in St. Albans?, -because of the special loans in Richmond, he pointed out that special loans had been raised in respect to special districts in St. Albans, nnd that there would be no difficulty in the matter. He suggested that the full number of councillors allowed by •'aw—fifteen—should be elected to the Qreater Christchurch Council. The Chairman said it was a great pity that the question of representation was not dealt with when the tentative proposals were under consideration. He would have been pleased to have had this discussion before the matter was submitted to the vote. The Mayor of Sydenham thought the Mayors of St. Albans and Linwood had somewhat misrepresented the position. They had said that the issue had been different in their boroughs. But had they not contended that the representation would be equalised if Sydenham joined? The Mayor of Linwood—"No." The Mayor of St. Albans—"No." The Mayor of Sydenham said he thought that had been the contention. He considered the question should stand over till the next election of councillors for Greater Christchurch. He was opposed to the alteration of the present boundaries. The Chairman thought that after the full discussion given to the subject a motion should be put before the conference. The Mayor of Linwood said they had come to the conference in the hope that it would formulate some scheme. The Chairman said before any progress could he made tlejy must have some definite scheme before them. Cr. Brown said their only plan would be to .forward to the Governor a recommendation with regard to a new division of the wards. He could see that the City and Sydenham Councils were pledged to certain boundaries and to a certain representation. Recommendations from the St. Albans and Linwood to the Governor on the matter would probably carry more weight than any resolution passed "by the Conference. Cr. Hadfield said that even supposing the request of Linwood regarding the alteration of boundaries was acceded to by the Governor-in-Council, it would be opposed jby Sydenham. Cr. Gray pointed out (hat under section 182 of the Municipal Corporations Act the I Council of Greater Christchurch had power 'to alter the boundaries of the wards. It was decided not to proceed further with the subject. The Chairman referred to the suggestion made with regard to the alteration of the r-ames of the wards. He suggested that the names should be left as at present till tha Greater Christchurch a Council dealt with it. As to the Christchurch ward, he suggested that it should be named the City or central Ward. The Mayor of St. Albans suggested that the Christchurch Ward should be named Godley or Rolleston Ward. Cr. Seed said he had moved in this matter in the Linwood Council, and he was stiH strongly impressed with the urgency and necessity for altering the names. Cr. Gray objected to any alteration on sentimental and utilitarian grounds. The present names were full of old associations, and if retained would facilitate the work of the postal department. The Mayor of St. Albans and Cr. Forrester also objected to the alteration of the present names. Cr. Hadfield considered that even if the wards were renamed Christchurch East, Chrisstchurch West, and Christchurch South they would continue to be known by j their present designations. After further discussion, Cr. Seed, with the consent cf his seconder, withdrew a motion he moved on the subject, on the ' understanding that it would be dealt with by the different councils. Tlie c-uairman pointed out that thwe ! was not much time for the matter being so dealt with, as t-ae petitions had to be I presented within three days. Cr. Barlow presumed that each Council in its petition could suggest the name by j which their district should be known when it became a ward of Greater Christchurch. | The Chairman asked if there was any matter in connection with the adjustment of accounts that the conference would like I to deal with. The Mayor of Sydenham thought they had no authority to deal with the subject. \ Greater Christchurch took over the respon- j sibilifcies and liabilities of the uniting bor- J oughs, and it would be useless for the conference to discuss accounts. The conference then rose. j