GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17221, 11 August 1921, Page 6

GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

POSITION OF WOOLSTON. A largely-attended meeting of Woolston residents was held in the local Oddfellows' Hall last night to consider the matter of Woolston joining the city. Mr C. Hill was voted to the ° Cr." W. J- McConnell, of Woolston, the first speaker, complained of the meeting of Woolston electors, and denounced the proposal of the Councd to raise a large loan, claiming that under the efficient administration of the city, sucli loan would not be necessary The financial position of the borough was such that some form of efficient administration was required. Woolston was already rated up to the limit, and there were also special rates to pay, which did not prevail in the city, such as the fire rate and the street lighting rate, which in the city were paid for by the general rate. A comparison would show that under city control the total rates due by a ratepaver would be less than what would be chargeable under borough control. Tho electric light service of Woolston was now being conducted at a loss, although the rates charged were higher than in the city. Amalgamation with the city would effect an immediate and direct saving of at least annum, that being the cost of local administration. _ ~ Mr D. G- Sullivan, M.P., said neither he nor Mr A. S Taylor, the other sneaker, had any desire to ram Greater Christchurch down the throats of the Woolston people. . AU they had done was to place tne posit ion be fore the Woolston people, and to leave the judgment to those people. The City Council were by no means anxious IT extend the city boundaries to include Woolston, for it was a losing proposition for the Oity Council to have its boundaries enlarged. A recent return showed that the old central ward contributed 60 per cent, of the total rates whereas the suburban wards had expended on them almost a similar percentage. The tact waTthat in authorising expenditure t)he Citv Council took no account ot where the rates were raised. The citf had nothing to gam .from a. fina*ml point of view by taking in Woolston, and the probability was that the city would spend more in Woolston than it received by way of rates. There wero too many local bodies in existence administering portions of the city area. A voice: Ridiculous I Mr Sullivah said it was ridiculous that so many bodies should be exercising control over what was really one city area. The cost of diversified local administration was not going into improved services, but wa« largely wasted. What was wanted was really a Christchurch County Council, which should administer the whole of the metropolitan area in an economic and efficient manner. By linking up with the city, the general rate payable in Woolston would be reduced, the fire Tate would be abolished, also,*e believed, the part rate, and a saving would probably be effected in the electric light charges. The City Council could be relied upon to <nve Woolston a fair and square deal. Mr A. S. Taylor, ex-city councillor, eaid that Woolston should have joined the city years ago. No single district that (had come into the city had ever found cause to Tegret it, and there had never been the first signs of an agitation to return to the old control. It had been alleged by a Woolston councillor that Spreydon already regretted coming in. He, however, was in closo touch with Spreydon, and could say that the feeling there was one of absolute satisfaction witth the new, control. If Woolston joined the city it would be allowed to elect three of its councillors to the City Council for the remainder of the life of the present Council. After that, Woolston would join in with the city in electing a new City Council. The cas&of Spreydon showed that no district would be deprived of fair representation. Woolston had rated for street lighting, which was a disguised method of meeting adeneitfncy in the lighting service accounts. If no allowance for depreciation had been made in the past,- tlhen the electricity account of Woolston must be in a very bad state. The city had approached 1 Woolston in the past to co-operate in a general electricity scheme, but Woolston had refused to join in, although the only reason for the proposed cooperation was to make the cost cheaper to all. The Christchurch electnoal undertaking had proved a magnificent suocess, and the charges were cheaper than anywhere else in the Dominiorf. From the point of view of the electricity service alone it would pay Woolston handsomely to joint the city. ,- Mr I. Green, ex-Mayor of North-Eaat Valley, Dunedin, spoke in favour of amalgamation, and the control of aW services-by the one body, as was now the case in Dunedin. Mr H. Reid moved: "That this meeting considers that it is in the best interests of Woolston to join Greater Christchurch, and we urge the Woolston electors to vote for the proposal on August 2ith." In speaking to the motion, ho said he had gone into the financial phase of the question very closely, and was satisfied he could get cheaper and more efficient services under city control than under the present local administration -

Mr McGregor Wright moved an amendment that the matter be deferred until next Wednesday evening, when a meeting of electors called by the Woolston Council will be held. The amendment was lost and the motion carried.