REFORM OF DRAINAGE BOARD SUGGESTED

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28463, 18 December 1957, Page 14

REFORM OF DRAINAGE BOARD SUGGESTED

With the lack of interest in the Christchurch Drainage Board’s elections—each vote on the 1955 poll would cost 15s today—the chairman (Mr H. P. Smith) told the board last evening that there should be serious consideration of a system of members being nominated by the local bodies which contribute to the board’s revenue and in which the board’s area is situated.

Mr .Smith, who has been chairman of the board for the last three years, announced that he was resigning the position from tomorrow because he would not be seeking re-election to the board in May, and because he would be going overseas before the board’s meeting in February. Mr G. A. G. Connal, chairman of the finance committee, was chairman of the board. During the of most members of the board, some miles of trunk and sewers had been laid, and many hundreds of homes had been able to connect to the sewerage system. Mr Smith Said. -A’new main pumping station had been built, and a modern sewage treatment works designed. But, on looking at what remained to be done, one must be impressed by the huge amount of work which would fall to the lot of those who carried on the work, he continued.

Situated on what was once a swamp, the city ptesented problems of stormwater drainage which alone would keep the board its staff occupied for many years: “But I do not seek to create an atmosphere of gloom or hopelessness,” he said. “I want to emphasise (hat for many years the work of the board will call for a substantial effort on the part of its members, its staff and those who lend us the money to finance our major works.” Since 1947-48 the board’s expenditure from revenue had risen from £145,000 to £289,000, while expenditure from loans had gone from £7OOO to £382,000. Local Body Finance Other local bodies had continuous need of finance, and it was apparent that some new method of providing both revenue and loan capital for local bodies must be found if essential services were to keep pace with development, said Mr Smith. “Those who cheerfully give thentime to the work of local government should not have the added burden of worrying about where the money is to come from,” he continued. The board’s rate of expenditure would be stepped up substantially in the next few years, and some assur-

ance from the Government of adequate funds for essential works was essential.

With the increasing' volume of the board's spending, and the many persons who lacked sewers, it could reasonably be expected that there would be a strong public interest in the personnel of the board, particularly in unsewered areas, Mr Smith said. But that was not the case. At the last triennial election, the percentages of those who exercised their votes ranged from six ,to 14, and districts which lacked sewers showed no more interest than these with thein. Electoral Costs The election, in May would cost approximately £7500,. he said. That was £535 a member, or 15s a vote if the last election was taken as a guide. After suggesting consideration of a nominated board, Mr Smith said there would need to; be safe* guards against too great an influence of party politics in local government and some provision for continuity of membership -by a proportion of the board’s membership. Adoption of a nominated board would save a great deal of expenditure of time and a substantial sum of money every' three years.

Mr Smith said he could see no reason why the board should continue to be the only local body of any size not authorised to allow its chairman an honorarium ranging from £lOO to £4OO a year, although he did not have anything like the latter amount in. mind.

Recommending the board to consider an honorarium when its act came under review, Mr Smith said he was not making a belated personal complaint. He had been glad to give his time gratuitously. Tributes to Mr Smith’s work as chairman apd as a member of the board since 1948 were expressed by several members.