GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 617, 1 February 1916, Page 8

GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

POSITION OF RURAL AREAS. DIFFERENCES IN RATING SYSTEMS. Much of the Chrislchtirch City Council's time last evening was spent in considering the position of areas outside the city which wish to join the city hut which have a different system of rating than that in force in the latter. Eventually the mailer was referred to the By-laws and Finance Committee for a report on Uio subject. The Greater Ghristchurch scheme came before the council in two ways last evening. There was a deputation from the United Hcathcotc County Burgesses Executive (which represents various associations of burgesses in different ridings of that county) on the matter of rating on amalgamated areas. There was also a clause in the ordinary report of the By-laws and Finance Committee in which that committee stated that it had considered the request from the Opawa Burgesses Association that the Opawa Riding of Hcathcotc County be annexed to the city, and also the question of including the whole of Hcathcotc County within the city boundary, and it recommended that the Opawa Burgesses Association be informed that the council had no objection to the Opawa Riding, or any other suburban area, being included, provided it was distinctly understood that if the inhabitants of any sucb area required any works carried out involving capital expenditure they must raise a loan for the purpose and submit to a special rate.

THE TWO RATING SYSTEMS. It was, however, the deputation which really instigated the discussion last evening. The first of the two spokesmen was Mr W. J. Jenkin, of Avonside, who explained that the deputation desired the council to promote a Bill which would enable it to lake outlying districts into the city and allow those districts to retain their own system of rating until their ratepayers had had an opportunity of voting upon the city's system. Mr Jenkin dwelt at some length upon the advantages of centralisation of local government, especially in the matters of electric light and power, fire prevention, and cost of administration. The Heathcote ratepayers, he said, wanted to conic into the city under the rating systems they had at present, and get the benefits which the city possessed. Afterwards, if they thought lit, the ratepayers might take a poll on the ■question of the rating system, and they might then rate on the unimproved value, as the city did now. Otherwise it would be impossible for these ratepayers to get the advantages which the city had now. Mr J. Longton (of St. Martins) was the other spokesman. He, too, went at considerable length into the advantages which both the cily and the ratepayers of Heathcote would derive from amalgamation. He went on to emphasise that the Heathcote people were not asking for something for nothing. They would have to provide the same amount of money in rates under the system of rating on the capital value, in vogue in the outside areas, as they would have to find under the rating on unimproved values in vogue in the city. In the rural areas the same system of rating as existed in urban areas could not be applied equitably, and that was why the deputation asked for what was practically only a matter of book-keep-ing. If the City Council wished to go in for a Greater Christchurch that was more than a mere name, this was the only way to bring it about. QUESTION OF SPECIAL LOANS.

In reply lo Cr H. F. Herbert, Mr Tefikin said that the Ileathcole ratepayers were quite prepared, where special works were required in any area joining the city, to have special loans submitted lo the ratepayers, i Answering other questions, Mr I.ongton said that there were certain parts of the Ileathcole County, such as parts of Avonsidc and Opawa, where rating on the unimproved value would benefit the ratepayers, but that did not apply in the rural areas. The majority of the Hcathcotc ratepayers would not benefit from rating on unimproved values. Mr Longton also advanced the theory that even the various wards of the city should have power lo select their own systems of rating. in assuring the deputation thai the matter would be thoroughly considered by the council, the Mayor remarked that he believed it was a reasonable proposition. A previous deputation, however, had submitted lo him figures which showed thai the majority of the ratepayers would benefit from rating on unimproved values. Only where the value of property gol up lo £3OOO was the rating on unimproved values higher than the rating on capital values. ENCOURAGING LOCAL INDUSTRIES. Li- G. Scott moved that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee. He hoped that no objection would be raised to carrying out the wish of the deputation. He had always supported a Greater Christchurch, and he supported il still more in Hie present circumstances. It was the duty of the City Council to assist in bringing in the outer areas. The time had arrived when the council should consider the best way* of assisting lo establish local industries in Christchurch. There was no pari of New Zealand so well adapted as Canterbury for a manufacturing centre. The deputation had already said it was quite" prepared to be rated to the same extent, only under a different system. There should be no objection to that, Such

j a course had already been followed in the amalgamation of the borough of Grey Lynn with the city of Auckland. The deputation was also quite prepared to be rated for special works. Cr Scott went on to refer to the city's water supply as inadequate for the city, and to the desire of some of the adjoining boroughs, such as New Brighton, Woolslon, and Spreydon, to obtain better water systems. The City Council should try to get in as many of the outside bodies as possible before it considered the extension of the water supply scheme, which it would have to face before 'long, and then should consider a scheme that would be comprehensive. The city would have something to gain, and the outside local bodies .would also have something to gain. He hoped that the lime was not far distant when the city would have a Metropolitan Board of Works. GERMAN GOODS. Beverling to the mailer of establishment of local industries, Cr Scott said that if the city took in Healhcote it would be in a position | to offer inducements for the establishment of local industries. A lot of nonsense had been talked lately about boycotting German goods, but before they boycotted German goods they must know how they could replace them. New Zealand could not do it yet, and Britain could not do it. They would have to take German '■ goods for some years to come. (Manj cries of "No!") He hoped not, with [ all his heart, but if they were not to take German goods they must encourage local industries. The next thing they would have to do would be to agitate for a canal. What was wanted to make Ghristchurch one of the leading cities was a canal. Cr A. S. Taylor seconded the motion. He considered that the city itself should bring the matter of Greater Ghristchurch to a head. The rating systems had been the stumbling block all along. If they could get round that, the outside local bodies would come tumbling over one another into the city. Cr J. McCombs thought that the deputation's proposal was a very reasonable one. It involved no sacrifice of principles. The motion was carried.