THE MUNICIPAL YEAR.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18263, 23 December 1924, Page 4

THE MUNICIPAL YEAR.

PROGRESS IN 1924. A review of municipal affairs curing 1924 was made by the Mayor -'Mr .J. A. Flesher) yesterday. When the history c-f the city came to be written, the Mayor said, the year 1524 wo'ild stand out, as one of the most important in several rssptcts. The chief event was the completion and opening of the new Municipal Offices in Manchester street. The city was new equipped with a suite of offices which were, probably, unequalled, in Australia and .\«w Zealand. Tha city was now able to house its staff in convenient quarters, where the work of the municipality could be carried out to the satisfaction of all concerned. The total cost, including the site, represented a capital expenditure of £75.000 but. in view of the importance and growth of Christchurch, it was generally admitted that the expenditure was justified, especially as the needs of the city in. respect of office accommodation were amply provided for—probably for a century hence. Visitors to the city who ha/d seen the new offices had expressed themselves as more than delighted with the result achieved. The Chamber of Commerce had taken over, on lease for twenty-one years, the old Municipal Chambers, Oxford terrace, andi they would become the commercial and industrial centre of the city. In the new Council Chamber it would be possible to hold practically all the civic receptions and welcomes to distinguished visitors to the city. During 192-t quite a number of these functions were .held, those who received) civic welcomes including the Earl and Countess of Harrowlv, Lady Frances Ryder, Sir John and Lady Randies. Earl Cassillis, Lady Forbes-Robertson, and Professor John Adams. The farewell tendered, in October last, to Viscount JeDicoe. prior to his departure from the Dominion after his term as Govrenor-General, and to Viscountess Jellicoe. would be ever remembered T>y those who attended the function a3 one of the notable events of the year. On that occasion the a/xommodation of the new Chamber was taxed to its utmost. In May the city was honoured by the visit of the Light Cruiser squadron, under Rear-Admiral Sir Hubert Brand, but it was a matter of regret that the weather proved un prop it ions and prevented' the carrying out of the complete programme as originally arranged. The abandonment of the ceremonial march of bluejackets through the streets was a great disappointment to thousands of people, and to large numbers of children, many of whom had come into the city especially to witness it. The opening of the Bridge of Remembrance, at Cashel street, by Lord Jellicoe, on the anniversary of Armistice Day, was one of the most important event? of the year. The bridge and its memorial arch would be prized by the citizens, not only from sentimental considerations, but also as one of the architectural beauties of the city. The park 3of the city were added to during the year by the acquisition of seven acres at Papanui. The equipment of the children's playground at Sydenham was completed, and the playground wa3 formally opened. It was proving a great source of enjoyment to the children in that populous part of the city.. Arrangements were in hand for the equipment of similar playgrounds •on the Elm wood and St. Albans parks. "It is the policy of the City, Council," his Worship added, "to lose no opportunity to increase the area set aside for playgrounds and recreation ourposes.'' After a good deal of consideration it had been finally decided that the n Municipal Concert Hall, the loan !<> r .whifth was sanctioned last year, should be built to accommodate 1500 people. The complete plans, it is expected, will be ready early in the New Year, when tenders will be called for the work. The Council made the necessary financial arrangements during the year for the continuance of its housing scheme in respect of eleven dwellings. The Council makes the necessary advances on the easiest possible terms, so that those availing themselves ->f the scheme can secure homes r-t the lowest possible cost. In resp°*"-i of the dwellings erected, the weekly payments, inclnding redemption instalments, amount to 17s lOd, the actual amount paid as rent being 12s lOd per week. Only two loan proposal?—thor-e urespect of the extension of tho water supply, and those to meet the requirements of the Municipal jsUrtr:i--ity Department —were submitted to the ratepayers. . The total rates levied amounted, m round figures, to £24,000 more than in 1923-2-1. The general rate levied totalled £124,000, and rates for other purposes totalled £145,000. The total, £269,000, was the highest that had ever been levied in the history of the city. The increase for the year was made up largely by increased drainage »rates, £4600; and Waimakariri River Trust rates. *£14,000. The increase for the general purposes of the city was only £4OOO. The expenditure for 1924-25 included a large number of non-recurring items,' totalling about £12,000, and, with careful administration, the Council should be able to reduce the general rate for 1925-26 by an equivalent amount. Some of the legislation passed by Parliament last session was likely to have a prejudicial effect on municipalities. The Motor Vehicles Act was probablv the most important. The registration of motor vehicles, and the fees therefor, were taken from municipalities, tho Post and Telegraph Department being the registering authority. Car-owners would be called upon to pav a minimum annual fee of £2. and motor-cvclists a fee of 10s. In Christchurch there were 11,000 motor vehicles registered—sooo cars and 6000 motorcycles the fees from which amounted to about £13,000. These registration fees would in future, be paid into the Main Highways Fund, from which municipalities receive no benefit in respect of main highways- passing through them. Drivers of all motor vehicles would he required: take out an annual license fee of os, which would be paid to tho local authorities. there were about 12,0C0 motor drivers in the city. "Under the new legislation owners and drivers of motor vehicles would be taxed to the extent of about £16,000. Some important staff changes took place during the year. Mr H. R. Smith, who was Town Clerk for 23 years, retired at the end of last March, and was presented with an illuminated address, in which appreciation of his services was recorded: it was signed by the Mavor and all the councillors. Mr J. S. Neville, who had been in the Council's service for 23 years, was appointed to succeed Mr Smith. Recently the City Surveyor, Mr C. R- Dawe. resigned his position in order to go into business on his own account. For the vacancy so caused forty-two applications had been received from engineers in the Dominion and in Australia. These were under consideration at present, and a new Citv Surveyor would be appointed, probably early in the New Tear. The Mayor concluded his review by extending to tho citizens his wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New . Year.