The Sun WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1916. THE SPECIAL RATING AREAS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 701, 10 May 1916, Page 6

The Sun WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1916. THE SPECIAL RATING AREAS.

,It is possible to take a narrow and short-sighted view (even as does jour Conservative morning contemporary) of the proposals of the 'Tramways Board to afford a measure of relief to the special rating i areas, but a detached consideration I of the vexed little question will |show that the board, in making these ! concessions, is simply taking into ! account future contingencies, and las this does not impose any great jhardship on the main area such a i policy can be justified. The relief j proposed amounts to some £1065), which is made up of a contribution of £lOlB from the main area account and an increase in its standing charges of £621. It may be noted here that our tramway finances are in a position to make this subsidy to jthe special rating areas. The service is admittedly a convenient ser-' j vice, and if its operations over the I main area resulted in a surplus of only £17.")!) out of a revenue of j j£l24,(>(><>, still that surplus leaves Ihe (board with a good working margin.J I In a few words, the board is in a; i . I position to assist the struggling extensions, and it is doing so, not. ■exactly because those areas deserve, it, but because the future of Greater jChristchurch calls lor some such provision. II is t«rue the residents I of Ihe special rating areas covenant-1 led to shoulder certain taxation responsibilities if their districts re-: iceived a Irani service, and it is equal-j ly true that the contract entered into has not been kept, but it must be obvious to any dispassionate observer! 'thai not only have the tramway ex-1 tensions brought a considerable rej venue to the main system by reason! of what is termed "induced" traffic, j land for thai reason deserve some; i consideration when in difficulties,' bul that Ihe relief asked and granted: will not always be necessary. If the! special rating areas were always lot be a drag on Ihe central system all ! jthis protest and pother about injus-j Mice to Ihe ratepayers of the main! area would have some justification. I 'However, the prospect is more hope- , fill than that. II is only a mailer of] time, and no great length of lime! Cither, when the logical expansion; 1 of the city, accelerated by the Irani-! I way extensions now to be afforded j 'temporary relief, will place these outer lines on a self-supporting: basis. It is a sound policy, proved: [ill oilier parts of the world, that, all' ■other things being equal, tram serj vices should precede suburban set|llenient. Christchurcli is steadily 'pushing out on the plain and climbing Ihe hills. II would be difficult to set any limit lo its future bounjdaries, and one means of realising: J the.ideal of a Greater Christchurch j is lo anticipate where possible the direction the .suburban populations'

arc likely to take, and make preparations accordingly. While the main i area is in a position to subsidise the I non-paying tramway services, it should not grudge a reasonable meaI sure of assistance, because, by so doing, it is helping the city to develop as all good citizens hope to I have it develop. The central system .must expect to carry the heavy end of the log until such time as the special rating areas are in a position Ito look after themselves. The sacrifice asked of the ratepayers of the | main area is, to our mind, not so much a sacrifice as a little timely •assistance easily rendered, involving a community benefit, and anticipating the day when the special districts will be incorporated with the main area. For these and other reasons already noted we believe the Tramways Board has acted with foresight in adopting the report of the Works and Traffic Committee.