AMALGAMATION PROPOSALS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25629, 19 October 1948, Page 6

AMALGAMATION PROPOSALS

Local Government Commission FINAL EVIDENCE FOR COUNTIES

The final witnesses on behalf of the Paparua and Halswell County Councils, in answer to the Christchurch City Council’s claims that areas of the counties should be amalgamated with the city were heard by the Local Government Commission yesterday. Although not wishing to lose any areas, neither council opposed amalgamation, except that of Islington, which the Paparua County Council contended was an area which should remain in the county. Witnesses for both councils said it was inequitable that rural areas in the counties should be included in the Tramway Board’s district. The areas had to pay rates, but obtained no benefits from the board.

Her council had found no difficulty in administering the Islington area, and its by-laws were adequate to control such an industry as freezing works, said, Alice Isabel Freeman, Paparua county clerk, when cross-ex-amined by Mr W. R. Lascelles (for the City Council). Asked about the standard of roads and footpaths in Islington. Miss Freeman said the county was working outward in providing better roads and paths, and she had no doubt that the people of Islington would get a reasonable standard of roads in a reasonable time.

To Mr F. B. Stephens, counsel to the commission. Miss Freeman said she did not think the county would be able to carry on economically if it lost a third of its territory. She favoured a regrouping of the counties in the area. Freezing Works Freezing works were essentially rural industries and they required large areas of land for holding stock and as a screen fdr close settlement, said Mr C. G. Penlington. on behalf of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company. Ltd., which objected to a claim by the City Council that 256 acres of the company’s 813 acres at Islington should be included in the city. The area sought included all the land occupied by buildings and works cottages and 165 acres which were essential as holding paddocks. The works disposed of its own effluent, and relied on the Paparua County Council for an adequate water supply. The City Council would not be able to provide either service for a considerable time.

Because it would have to meet greater overhead charges bv rates, and possibly water supply and other expenses. -the company would be at a great disadvantage with its competitors. It might also be faced with added drainage charges. Richard Melvin Simmers, engineer to the company, gave evidence in support of Mr Penlington’s submissions. Discussing the company’s consumption of electric power. Mr Simmers said the company paid £5042 14s 2d for power from the Springs-Ellesmere Electric Power Board in the year ended March 31. 1948. To Mr Stephens, the witness said continuity of load was very important, and he felt there was a better chance of getting it from the power board than from the Municipal Electricity Department. The company’s load was very important to the power board.

Residents’ Opinion If the 810 acres of the Halswell County affected by the City Council’s application were amalgamated with the city, the county council would lose £2297 in rates, said the chairman. Edward Paterson. He estimated that 75 per cent, of the area was rural. The council, while realising that it was unable, to give the ratepayers in the area the amenities they would ultimately receive if they came into the city, felt it was desirable to ask as many ratepayers and occupiers as possible to express their opinion on amalgamation, said Mr Paterson. Of 60 ratepayers and occupiers, 46 had signified that they did not wish for amalgamation. “The council has felt that in face of this expression of opinion it cannot consent to the area’s being amalgamated with the city.” he continued. “At the same time, it realises that this is an area of ‘spillover’ from the city, and, bearing in mind the decision of the Commission in the Huntly case, there is a prima facie case established here for amalgamation."

Halswell wc uld be prepared to give further amenities to the area if it was possible to do so economically. It was inevitable that the area would become more generally urbanised in the next 25 years, although the city to the south-west had not shown the same tendency to spread .as had the areas to the north and northwest.

If the areas were amalgamated with the city, it was estimated that it would be necessary to increase the general rate over the county by 4d tn the £. because there would only be a small saving tn expenditure.

There were no by-laws in the county, said the county clerk, Rita Mary Ballantine, to Mr Stephens. She said the council’s staff would have to be reduced by one man if the City Council’s claims were successful.