THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, 28th JANUARY, 1903. "GREATER CHRISTCHURCH"-AND INVERCARGILL.

Southland Times, Issue 18056, 28 January 1903, Page 2

THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, 28th JANUARY, 1903. "GREATER CHRISTCHURCH"AND INVERCARGILL.

THa City of Cbristchurch has recently been dealing with a question that has before now been suggested for consideration in Invercargill — the question of! borough amalgamation. About Christchurch be the boroughs of Linwood, St. Albans and Sydenham, all by position and interests part of, the city proper, but all separated from it by artificial belts and erected into distinct municipalities. For many years the anomalies create J by having the city divided into four parts, under four administrations with four executives and staffs, and four systems of finance and public works, havj obtruded themselves upon the notice of public men, and a " Greater Christchurch scheme" has often been spoken of. It was generally regarded, however, as a matter for speculation and preparation, only, and as outside the scope of present day municipal politics. Mr Wigrain, the present mayor of Chriatchurch, disagreed with this view, however, and brought the question of the amalgamation of the suburbs with the city before the citizens for settlement without delay. We gather that Mr Wigram was greatly assisted by tho preliminary work done by his immediate predecessors in office, but that it was chiefly due to his personal tact and administrative ability that the question was brought to the poll last Thursday and answered in favour of the proposal by an overwhelming N majority. The voting is instructive and may be sho^n thus : —

It will be observed that the name of Sydenbam is not mentioned, and it is to be regretted that this very interesting movement in looal government was partly "marred by the hostility of the Sydenham Council to the scheme. It so happens that the issue now rests entirely on the decision of Sydenham, for in the boroughs of Linwood and St. Albans it was made a condition that a poll in favour of amalgamation with Christchurch should have effect only if Sydenham were of the same mind. The Sydenham . poll will be taken on February 4th, and the Christchurch newspapers are confident that the people of Sydenham will be found voting 1n harmony with the people oi Christchupch, Linwood and Sc. Albans, and that the prolonged efforts of those who have 'fought for a "greater Cbristchurch" will be crowned with success. It may also be remarked, as showing that Christchurch enjoys no immunity from the pervading apathy in municipal affairs, that the city and borough rolls appear to be rather meagre and the proportion of voters small. Although the proposal was carried by a majority of five to one on the actual number of votes cast, the number of votes in favour of it did not represent an aptual majority ©f qualified voters. One would have thought that when issues of such magnitude were at stuke every vote would have been claimed and

exercised, but in all our towns, large and small alike, there appears to be a numerically strong section of the population that cannot spare a single thought to the well-being of the community, and to which civic rights are matters of.no consequence. This wilful indolence is worse than deplorable as a shortcoming — it ■ amounts almost to a positive public wrong. The_ movement in- Ghristchurch and its complete success so far a"s it has gone are chiefly of interest to u c , because the .position of Invercargill is relatively identical, with that of Christchurch. Inver-jargill has not so large a population as / Christchurch, nor are its finances and works on thje same scale. But^it resembles Christchurch in that it is almost surrounded by boroughs that are-part of it in everything save j the surveyor's plan. The contiguous boroughs of South Inverjargill, East Invercargill, North Invercargill, and Ayenal belong to Invercargill proper, and only an artificial barrier, called a town boundary, divides them from ifc.

In Invercargiil, indeed, the anomalies that arise through hubdividing^whab is essentially one town into a group of municipalities are accentuated, and the arguments that were advanced in favour of a " gr. ater Christchurch " become even stronger when applied in support of a " greater Invercargill." Here we have for the government of between 12,000 and 13,<JU0 people and the administration of a comparatively email town revenue six municipal bodies with th« ir mayors and officials, six little systems working towards six different points, and six fictitious interests where there is only one real interest. It is difficult to see what objection can be made to amalgamation, and equally difficult to see what reasons can be urged for continuing on the present lines. The outl>ing boroughs are practically on an equal footing with the average country village in respect of ordinary municipal conveniences and facilities, and they can hardly ascend much higher in the scale while they are separated from the town proper. Incorporation with the town would result in some immediate advantages and in great future benefit. If the boundaries of the town were fixed with a regard to geographical, social and civil interests, Ibvercorgill would embrace all the contiguous boroughs we have mentioned, and in all matters of local government uniformity and permanency would be obtained. At present, instead of having our public works and public services bised upon a broad, comprehensive plan wo have a number of small unconnected plans, laid down without regard to each other, implicating or conflicting each other, and holding out the pjospect of inevitable'readjustment and loss. The drainage system, the waterworks system, the g«s tupply, the fire brigade services, the colleot'on of refuse, the removal of nightsoil, the maintenance of the streets — all jhese are branches of municipal work that will never be satisfactorily performed while the town and population of Invercargill are severed by arbitrary boundaries into five or six ptrts. It may be objected that when East Invercargill and Avenal and tho rest have progressed so far as to require water and gas services it will be time enough to talk to the"ra of incorporation with Invercargill, but the reply to that objection is that amalgamation with Invercargill would probably bring the date at which the conveniences enumerated can be introduced into these places much nearer. We do not propose to elaborate the arguments in favour of a "greater Invercargill" at this time. We might proceed to show that it is better to have one and the same road under the control and supervision of one body instead of three ; that it is more effective as well as more economical to administer the affairs of a town by one executive and one staff instead of six ; that the principle of co-opera-tion is as applicable to municipal as to private business and so pn. But it is not our intention to urge that the question of a " greater Invercargill " should bo at once taken up. The time is not yet ripe, and to assist its ripening we offer such comments as the movement in Cbristchurch suggested to us. We hope that Sydenham will hot; through caprice or of a set purpose indefinitely postpone the consummation of a "greater Christchurch," and we also hope that the achievement of unity in Christchurch will hasten on the day when artificial town belts will no longer dismember Invercargill.

For Against Number on Roll Christchurch 1209 72 3379 Linwood 590 145 1716 St Albaus 436 248 1800 2234 465 6895