ACTION OF LINWOOD COUNCIL

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11534, 17 March 1903, Page 3

ACTION OF LINWOOD COUNCIL

QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION*.

At the meeting of the Linwood Borough Council last evening, a letter was read stating, by direction of the Mayor of Christehurch, that in connection with amalgamation the Colonial Secretary required resolutions under seal from *fee eeveral existing Councils, agreeing to the proposed wards and number of councillor* for each ward. If the Council had not already passed and forwarded these resolutions, the Mayor of Chrietchurch would be obliged it they would give this important matter immediate attention.

The petition as presented by Linwood , to the Governor with regard to amalgamation, prayed tbat the city and suburbs might be constituted "one united city, by the name of the City of Christchurch, subdivided into wards,'with boundaries to be mutually agreed upon." The JSlayor stated that to pass a resolution expressing natisfaction with a representation of two would be to go back upon the Council's former attitude. He was most unwilling that anything should be done to delay amalgamation, but lie felt that tlit question of adequate representation was ii most important one. It was a question of whether they should give away the rights of theij ratepayers. Cr. Brunt thought that eventually, no doubt, the matter would adjust itself. His Worship stated that the. borough's petition for amalgamation left the question of representation an open one. He understood that the amalgamation -would not be gazetted until the protest made by St. Albans. on the same grounds, had been either withdrawn or overruled. Speaking personally, lie would oppose any resolution Svbich would give Lin wood only two representatives for her 7300 persons," while the city, , witii 17,600 persons, bad six. The only way to get over the difficultiee of representation was by alteration of the boundaries. Cv. Robertson suggested that a special meeting should be held to consider the matter. His Worship thought that a better course would be merely to fall back upon the borough's petition. In that case, it was pointed out, the boundaries would hare to be fixed by the Governor. A resolution was accordingly passed receiving the letter, and stating that the matter had been dealt with in the petition. I