HEALTH OF THE CITY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21387, 1 February 1935, Page 12

HEALTH OF THE CITY

♦ FUNCTIONS OF DRAINAGE BOARD WORK REVIEWED AND PRAISED The work of the Christchurch Drainage Board during the last year, one of the most important in its history, was reviewed at the annual dinner of the board at Warner's Hotel last evening. Members of local bodies within the area controlled by the board were among those who were present, and several paid high tributes to the work of the chairman (Mr H. G. Livingstone) and members, and to the success of their work during the last year. Mr Livingstone presided and among the guests were Messrs H. S. S. Kyle, M.P., Mayor of Riccarton; W. H. Nicholson, Mayor of Sumner; E. A. M. Leaver, Mayor of New Brighton; C. Flavell, chairman of the Heathcote County Council; C. E. Cross, Waimairi County Council; H. Holland, M.P., a former member of the board; A. L. B. Ross, District Land Registrar; S. T. Barnelt, Lands Department; Colonel F. W. W. Dawson. Health Department; Messrs H. E. Garth, Bank of New Zealand; J. S. Kelly, and F. I. Cowlishaw and F. W. M. Cowlishaw, of .the board's firm of solicitors.

Co-operation of Local Bodies Mr Livingstone proposed the toast of "The Local Bodies," referring to the borough and county councils as the source from which the board drew its funds. He welcomed the mayors of boroughs and chairmen of county councils, and thanked them for their co-operaticn in the board's work for the good health of the city and its suburbs. It was only by this co-oper-ation, he said, that the good work could be carried out. Mr Kyle, who responded, thanked the board for the consideration it had given to local bodies and the manner in which their representatives had been received on this occasion. This was a fine opportunity, he said, to congratulate the board on the good work it was doing. "We have never borne any ill-will towards the Drainage Board," said Mr Flavell, who also responded to the toast. "The board is doing its work well and is to be congratulated. Heathcote perhaps would like to see more of the land at Bromley devoted to settlement, but we fully realise that the health of the city and suburbs must take precedence." Mr Flavell said he remembered attending a meeting of the board at which the former chairman, Mr Walter Hill, had presided, and at that time he had regarded him as a visionary hen he spoke of raising loans and equipping all the suburbs with efficient drainage systems; yet all this had been done.

Special Interest Much had been spoken, Mr Flavell said, of the proposed amalgamation of local bodies, but he was not sure that it would be such a wise move for the Drainage Board. Members of the board had a special interest in the work, and it was doubtful whether its functions could be so well administered in detail by the City Council, which had so many other matters occupying its attention. He would advise the board to be very careful before handing over its responsibilities. Mr J. W. Beanland proposed the toast of "The Health Department." He spoke of the close co-operation between the board and the department, and of the care and attention which the department gave. Its general supervision was of very great assistance. In Dr. T. F. Telford and Colonel Dawson the board had friends who were always ready io give help and advice. Work for Health

Colonel Dawson, who replied, apologised for the absence of Dr. Telford. He attributed the good health of the city largely to the board's wonderful work, remarking that without a drainage system Christchurch would be "thoroughly impossible." The board and the department had always worked happily together, and he was sure they always would. The toast of "The Bankers"- was proposed by Mr H. J. Otley, who said that the board could not have had better service and greater assistance than it had received from its bankers. Mr H. E. Garth, assistant manager of the Bank of New Zealand, responded to the toast. Mr C. S. McCully proposed the toast of "The Board's Solicitor," and Mr F. I. Cowlishaw responded. Mr Cowlishaw remarked that this was the sixtieth year since his father had acted as solicitor for the establishment of the board. Tribute to Board Mr Nicholson proposed the toast of "The Board." He said that from his experience he was satisfied that Sumner was at a disadvantage in not being linked with the board's system. He considered that the board's work was one of the most important functions carried out by any local body in Christchurch. In its long period the board had brought Christchurch to the level of any city in the southern hemisphere in its sanitary equipment. The chairman, in responding, described the work of the board during the year, referring in detail to the conversion of the board's loans, which he said was one of the largest local body conversion schemes in the city. The area administrated by the board, Mr Livingstone said, was divided into 12 sub-districts, each of which elected a member, but the boundaries of those districts did not coincide with those of the counties and boroughs. The functions of the board were to control storm water drains and passages, including streams; to control and improve the sewage system of Christchurch and the suburbs; and to protect and make efficient the drainage of land areas which were low lying by taking the subsoil water away. Financial Statistics The value of the area under the board's control was £35,519,000, a larger amount than any other local body had within its boundaries. The capital of the works put into existence by the board was £1,533,731. The original sewage scheme built from loan moneys cost £366,000. New works from loan moneys had absorbed £1,440,731. The rates for last year for all purposqs amounted to £102,119. The maintenance costs were £16,100, and the remainder of the rate moneys was absorbed in the payment of interest. The cost of cleaning and maintaining in order the Avon and Heathcote rivers was £IOSO, of which two-thirds was spent on the Avon. During the year the board had not had many problems, but there had been the important business of converting the board's internal loans. The board had to thank especially the Treasury Department for its assistance in this work. An officer had been sent down from Wellington and the scheme had been put through very successfully. The total debt of the board was £1,220,900, of which £948,600 was owed within New Zealand and £249,300 without. Successful Conversion Notices of the decision to convert had been published in the newspapers on December 10, and by now, only eight weeks later, with the holidays intervening, £73,700 of the £948,600 had been converted. The board's scheme provided for a half-yearly redemption of debentures. Mr Livingstone paid a special tribute to the staff, mentioning that the ratepayers had been saved a great deal of expense by the ability of the staff to carry out the work involved in the conversion scheiiie. The yea*: had been

a pleasant one, and the board's aim had been to give service to the city and suburbs and full 'attention to its responsibilities. The toast of "The Sinking Fund Commissioners" was proposed by Mr E. H. S. Hamilton, who described the history of the board's sinking fund and congratulated the commissioners (Messrs S. C. Bingham, H. G. Living" stone, and C. F. Champion). Mr Bir.gham responded. Mr R. Carter proposed the toast of "The Staff," Mr C. F. Champion, secretary to the board, and Mr J. Cullens. engineer, responding. The toast of "The Press" was proposed by Mr W. C. Largo and responded to by Mr J. S. Kelly. Mr W. R. Carey proposed the toast of "The Chairman," speaking highly of Mr Livingstone's work. Mr Livingstone responded.