DRAINAGE LOAN POLL.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17814, 13 July 1923, Page 8

DRAINAGE LOAN POLL.

CARRIED BY LARGE MAJORITY. The poll of the ratepayers taken yesterday on the proposal of the Christchurch Drainage Board to raise a loan of £700,000 for the purpose of carrying the sewerage system into the outer areas of Christchurch, was carried by 1188' votes to 232. The interest evinced in the poll by the ratepayers was not great, as only 1422 votes were cast, while the roll shows that the total number of ratepayers entitled to vote was 21,915. There were 36 polling places for the recording of votes, and in no return was there shown a majority against the proposal. In one instance there was a majority of only one in favour of the loan, but this was recorded in an area which is already served by the sewerage system, The voting at one of the Fendalton booths, which was within the new area, at present not connected with the system, all the votes rocorded were in favour of the proposal. , *. The poll closed at 7 p.m., and the counting of the votes was carried out expeditiously, the whole of the returns being in the hands of Mr O. F. Champion, secretary of the Drainage Board, at his office, by 8 p.m. Mr Walter Hill, chairman of the Board, made a brief statement to the Press after the result of the poll was known. He said that he was satisfied with the result. He would have liked to have seen rnoro interest shown in the poll by the ratepayers, but he realised that the weather conditions were not favourable. "I think the methods we adopted have also been against a big poll," said Mr Hill. "Under the existing conditions wo were not able to advertise the poll sufficiently, as wo had not the funds. The propaganda work we have done has been carried out without incurring a shilling expense to the ratepayers. I am of opinion," he stated in conclusion, "tllat a poll is of no use unless it is preceded by active propaganda work, which will pull the people out of their houses to vote." About a month will elapse before the formalities preceding the raising of the loan have been fulfilled. The object of the Board, in carrying out the sewer extension work, is to push the mains right to the outskirts of the outer areas. The connecting of the residences with the system will be undertaken by separate contracts. A beginning with the laying of the mains will be made in North Linwood, Woolston, and Opawa, as it is a matter of policy to first serve those districts which, by reason of their population, can most easily bear the new rating. When the scheme ia completed, an area within a radius of about 3 miles of the centre of the city will bo served by the sewerage system. The voting at the various booths on the loan proposal was as follows: —

For. Agst. Inf. St. John's School \. 62 14 — St. Michael's School.. 45 11 — Knox School 27 8 — Foresters' Hall 35 10 — Baptist School 8 7 — Barrington et. School 11 O _ M Spreydon Council 15 14 1 Beckenham Hall 45 17 — Methodist School, S. Crescent road 49 8 1 Shed, Clarence road .. 19 3 — Council Chambers, Eic, 80 10 — Church, Clyde road .. 41 '3 — Church, Puriri street -. 12 '1 — Shed, Eiccarton road . - 36 3 — Harper's Store, Fendalton 70 — — Church, Fulton avenue 10 1 — Church, Eugby street.. 73 8 — Church School, Papanui 52 8 —> Waimairi Council 4 1 —- St. Albans Library .. 38 4 — Array Hall, Cranford st. 46 4 — Hall, Winton street .. 29 5 — Johnson's Store, Barbadoes street 67 r» — Church Sen'., Hill's rd. 27 4 - Church Sch., Eandall st. ■-24 1 — Church Sch., Stanmone road ■ • i ■ 23 . 4 _ Cottage, Woodham road 12 4 — Church Sch., Gloucester street, Linwood .. 47 12 1 Pumping Station 22 10 — Hall, Ferry road 23 6 1 Church Sch., Aldwin.'s road 26 9 — Church School, Opawa 29 1 — Waltham Library 10 •9 — Beckenham Bowling Club 34 7 — Sydenham Library .. 24 12 — Army Hall, Battersea st. 13 5 — Totals ... 1188 232 . ,4