AMALGAMATION SCHEMES

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25955, 8 November 1949, Page 4

AMALGAMATION SCHEMES

ELECTORS’ POLLS SUPPORTED VOTE BY CITIZENS’ ASSOCIATION Support for areas affected by amalgamation, schemes promulgated by the Local Government Commission having the right of a poll on the issues has been given by a vote of the general committee of the Christchurch Citizens’ Association. The committee also supported polls of electors on the absorption of ad hoc local bodies, such as that by the City Council of the Drainage and Tramway Boards.

A motion supporting polls was carried by 19 votes to 7 at a special meeting of the committee on Friday evening. The question was first raised at a meeting a week before and was deferred. The debate is reported to have been keen, the opponents to the motion including the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) and Crs. J. E. Tait. G. D. Griffiths, and W. P. Glue, who were members of the amalgamation subcommittee of the City Council. A point of order raised early in the meeting, which lasted two hours and a half, was that the question was outside the jurisdiction of the Citizens’ Association as it affected residents in areas not at present in the city. The point was disallowed. Mr H. A. C. North presided at the meeting.