LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25554, 23 July 1948, Page 10

LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION

Greater Christchurch Scheme

“NO ELECTRICAL SUPPLY PROBLEM”

There would be no difficulty in supplying electricity to the new city area as proposed bs the City Council to the Local Government Commission, said Mr Edward Hitchcock, general manager of the Municipal Electricity Department, to the commission yesterday, when he gave evidence in support of the City Council’s claim that Riccarton borough and parts of the counties of Waimairi, Heathcote, Paparua, and Halsweil should be amalgamated with the city. Mr Hitchcock discussed a proposal that a Canterbury Power Board should be formed, with the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers as its boundaries. He did not favour such a scheme, but considered that the amalgamation of metropolitan areas with the city was the only adequate solution to the power supply problem. The net public debt a head of population in the city and the areas affected by the City Council’s claims was given by the city treasurer, Mr James Walter Niven. The figures were: City, £5 ZBs 4d; Riccarton, £5 2s 6d; Waimairi, £1 Os 8d; Heathcote, £5 Ils lid. Halsweil and Paparua counties had no public debt.