RICCARTON TOWN HALL.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14919, 18 March 1914, Page 10

RICCARTON TOWN HALL.

OPPOSITION FROM RATEPAYERS

The decision of the Riccarton Borough pouncil to erect a town hall and offices has caused quite a stir amongst some of the ratepayers of the borough, and last night a deputation, about thirty strong, waited on the Council in connexion with the matter. Mr C. Hampton said that tho deputation did not wish to urge the Council to reconsider its decision, but to put tho question to the ratepayers at tho coming elections. Ho understood that it was proposed to use for the scheme money tho Waimairi County Council were handing over. Every councillor was pledged to use the first available money for asp*haiting and channelling, and to place public healui before luxuries. There had been hve or six cases of diphtheria in a portion of tho borough owing to the bad state of the channelling. They had emphatically protested against the expenditure of the ratepayers' money by tbe Waimairi County Council on expensive offices, and had seceded in consequence, and he emphatically protested against the Borough Council doing likewise. .Mr Langlqy said that with the diicontent at present in the borough, a petition might be circulated at any timo for inclusion in Greater Christchurch, and money spent on a town hall would bo wasted. Mr J. Tasker said councillors should remember the promises given on tho establishment of the borough. The County Council had taken their money and neglected their roads. He was sorry to say they had folowed in the footsteps of the County councillors, and had not consulted the ratepayers. Mr J. Hanna said that the whole plea on which they had got the borough was the lavish expenditure by the "Waimari County Council, but now they proposed to follow suit. Tho Mayor, referring to the statement as to tho deplorable condition of a certain portion of the borough, said that at a public meeting called to con-; aider tho Council's scheme, only about five peoplo had attended, and the proposals were "turned down." The whole agitation had been worked up by exCouncillor Hampton, who, when on tno Council, supported the hall scheme. Hero Mr" Hampton interjected, a%-l endeavoured to explain, while other irtembers of the deputation and one or two councillors tried also to get a hearing, the leader of the deputation remarking that he was not going to be gagged, but would have his say. When order was restored the Mayor said the total cost of tho land, offices and hall would.be £1700, and if they carried out the suggestion of the deputation the amount represented by rent would be £50, as compared with £35 in conjunction with tho hall. Cr. Dempster said that as_a councillor Mr Hampton had been ono of tha first to suggest a hall. Cr. Foster asked if the deputation represented all tho ratepayers or only a small number, as he had heard of no opposition to the scheme outside their "Givo-us a poll,'" interjected several members of the deputation, and this was the theme of*"remarks aduressed to all the sneakers. Cr. White said he quite agreed with them regarding sanitary matters, but they had "turned down" the Council's scheme when it was put before tliem.^ Mr Hampton, replying, said that in supporting the town hall scheme he was pledged to the expenditure of not more than £350 on offices, but it was now proposed to spend £1700 of the ratepayers' cash, which was totally unnecessary. Tho deputation then withdrew. DAY LABOUR v. CONTRACT. The Council later threshed out the question of building the hall and offices by day labour or contract. Cr. Ford moved with regard to the building—"That this Council call for tenders for the building of a town hall and offices with a proviso that tho lowest or any tender be not necessarily accepted, in which case the usual fee of i per cent, of cost of the building be paid to the lowest tenderer." He thought the Council would lose by day labour. Cr. Waddell said that day labour in this case would bo cheaper by £150. Tho motion was lost, the voting being:—Ayes: The Mayor, and Crs. Helliwell and Ford; Noes: Crs Dempster, Stokes, White, Waddell, and Foster. A motion that the building of the town hall and offices be carried out by day labour was then carried, the voting being as before/