PAPANUI AND GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17612, 15 November 1922, Page 7

PAPANUI AND GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

*0 THE EDITOR OF " THE PRESS." Sir,—ln this morning 's issue of '' The Press," you report that the Papanui Progress League, at its meeting last evening, decided to protest to the Minister of Internal Affairs re the decision of the returning officer to have only one voting place for the poll on the 29th inst. You also report that the Waimairi Council, at its meeting last night, received a petition from 67 ratepayers to call a public meeting to protest against the above amalgamation: Both these reports call for some comment. As to the polling booth, it has to be said that the Progress League, when the poll was decided upon, preferred , a request to the returning officer that two polling booths should be arranged for, viz., St. Paul's Schoolroom, and a booth on the Papanui road near May's road. With this at the time he apparently concurred, but on Saturday last gave the information that there would only be one polling booth, viz., at the junction of Bligh's and Papanui roads. This scant ■ provision for so wide an area, which extends from the junction of May's road with Rutland street on the east, to the junction of Wairarapa road, via Norman's road, with Bligh's road on the west, with Norman's road on the south _and Proctor street on the north, the League deems' utterly inadequate to secure a satisfactory poll. Hence the decision to communicate with the Minister in order to secure better provision. As to the Council arranging for a publicmeeting of protest, it has been commonly reported for the last fortnight that such a meeting had been fixed for Monday, the 27th inst., two nights before the poll, and that the chairman and Cr. Sisson were to be the chief Speakers, and that both would endeavour to show the folly of seeking progress in the shape of more efficient ana economic administration by union with Ghristchurch. Such a programme, on the surface, seems ludicrous in tl»e knowledge that the Progress League, for over twelve months, by public meetings, and in its monthly meetings, has been considering the pros and cons of the question; and heartily approves of it, and in tne fact that the Boyal Commission recommended it, and that without the ! need of a poll the report may be-/baseless. it, however, becomes somewhat serious when we remember that this will be the first and 4 , only meeting of protest of organised ; opposition, and that it will be held when there will be no opportunity to reply before the poll. Is it playing the game to'endeavour to get a majority against by any catch vote! It may also be enquired, why did these 67 ratepayers petition the; Council for a public meeting! Did' they look upon ; the Council, as most people have been doing, as the only opposition to this forward movement! Why. did they not organise themselves .when the League decided in it's favour, twelve months ago, and Jiold their own public meetings? That would have been reasonable, aboveboard, and playing the game. - I am quite sure tnat these things will have their due value in the minds of the ratepayers of the; area affected, and wih find full expression in a substantial majority for such progress, stability, economic and efficient administration for Papanui, as can only be guaranteed by inclusion, in the City of Christchurch.—Yours, etc., THOB. n N. GRIFFIN, Hon. Secretary Papanui Progress League. November 14th.