EXTENDING THE CITY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17285, 28 September 1916, Page 8

EXTENDING THE CITY.

RATES IN ST MARTINS. CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE AGAINST INCLUSION. THE OBJECTION WITHDRAWN. Regarding the application for tho inclusion of St Martins riding of Heathcoto county in the city, the By-Laws Committee of the City Council reported last night that it had entered an objection oil the ground that the Department of Internal Affairs was inclined to hold that, in spite of any agreement that might be made to tho contrary. a rate greater than l£d iu the pound on capital value might not bo levied, it being understood that tho riding desired to maintain its existing system of rating. It would require a rate of 1 39-(j4d on capital value to yield an amount equal to 2|d (tho present rate in the city) on unimproved varue, and so St Martins would be more lightly rated for general rate than any other part of tho city, and tho works required would probably bo more costly in proportion. “ Under tho contract with the city',” the report continued, “ tho street lighting alone costs £IOB 16s. The total general rate that could be collected at 2Jd in the pound on unimproved value would be £671 9s lOd, and so very little would be left for maintaining the six and a quarter miles of streets, which do not include the llapaki ltoad. If, as is likely, a demand wero immediately made for a weekly refuse collection, this wo'uld accentuate tho position. It has been suggested that tho position might he improved by levying a separate lighting rate in tho district, but this could only be dono with the consent of tho fatepayers. A further suggestion has been made that this difficulty might be got over by levying a lighting rate over tho wholo city, but it is presumed the council would not do this without rethicing tho general rate in proportion. Assuming St Martins to bo part of the city, and • a lighting rate were levied, £5791 16s would bo required. Of course, tho general rate levied over St Martins would bo also proportionately reduced to £6ll 14s Bd, while tho lighting rate in St Martins would produce £56 17s 3d, making tho total £668 11s lid, or a gain to St Martins of £2 17s lid. The present general rate levied in St Martins is lid in tho pound on capital value, and is estimated to produce £571 Is 95.” Councillor J. M’Combs asked whether, for tho sake of. £2 17s lid the city was going to protest against tho inclusion oi St Martins. It would bo little trouble to strike a special lighting rate. Possibly before a rate was struck sufficient houses would bo built to avert the loss of £2 17s lid. Ho moved that the committee’s protest should bo withdrawn. In reply to a question as to whether St Martins was trying to come in under tho capital rating, Councillor D. G. Sullivan said that Mr J. Longton, the promoter of tho St Martins inclusion, had stated that tho district was prepared to come in under rating on unimprovod value. Councillor J. M’Cullough said that the district extended to a pure sheop run near llapaki pa. “It is no concern of ours,” said Councillor M’Combs. “There is only one objector.” Councillor J. Reynolds said that tho city was taking in sparsely populated districts first, instead of taking in places like. Fendalton and Woolston. Councillor AY. H. Cooper said that St Martins was an agricultural area, arid its inclusion in the city would ruin tho living*of-small farmers and dairymen. The rates would not touch tho fringe of the probable expenditure on roads and footpaths. \ Councillor G. Scott said that ho was surprised at tho “ keep ’em off ” sentiments expressed. It was the outer areas coming iu that had promoted Christchurch from a pettifogging city to wlmt it was now. The Mayor should have taken a hand in promoting tho extension of tho city long ago. The city should have extended to the hills, for they rightly belonged to it. Cashmere should have been iu tho city Jong ago, and its land was much more valuable than much of the city land. It was already maintainina its roads on present rates, and even undertaking separate works. Now was the time to build ini the city. Who were objecting? People on the hills whoso land ten years ago was rated at £lO an acre. Now some of them were demanding £IOOO an acre. Councillor H. J. Otley said that lie saw -no objection to the inclusion of St Martins, so long as it paid the same rates as the city. Tho city had no right to accept new areas on a differential rate. The inner area was tho old milch cow, which bore the burden of every new area. He suggested that St Martins might accommodate tlio city dairy herd. (Laughter.) The Mayor said that the' committee might very well withdraw its objection if St Martins was prenared to come in on the unimproved rate.

Councillor J. O. Jameson pleaded for a reversion to rating on capital values. Ail amendment withdrawing the objection was carried, subject to St Martins coming into the city on unimproved rating.