A LARGER CITY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 871, 24 November 1916, Page 8

A LARGER CITY.

WILL RICCARTON COME IN? THE QUESTION DISCUSSED. A meeting convened by the local branch of the Social-Democratic Party was addressed at the Riccarton Town Hall last evening by Crs A. S. Taylor and D. G. Sullivan in support of the district joining Greater Christchurch. The Mayor of the borough (Mr John Brown) presided, and there was a fair attendance. Cr Taylor said that he wished it to be understood that Cr Sullivan and himself were not seeking to impose their views upon the people of Riccarton, but were there merely to state the facts. Any future action was in their own hands. He would deprecate the raising of any party issue in connection with the matter. The arguments used to-day against the Greater Christchurch proposals were identical with those used in 1903, when Sydenham, Linwood, and St. Albans joined the city. From an administrative point of view the maintenance of small boroughs was costly. As an illustration of this he would quote the Borough of Riccarton, where last year the expenses of management amounted to £587 0/3 out of a total expenditure of £3002 8/3, equal to 19J per cent., whereas in the city the administrative expeness were only 8* per cent. Dealing with the electric light question, Cr Taylor said that he desired it to be most clearly understood that nothing that he would say should be interpreted as a reflection on the administration of the Riccaiton installation. The city's scheme was on its feet. The revenue last year had been £27,000, while for the first six months of this year it had been £20,000, giving prospect of a yearly revenue of £40,000. Riccaiton was paying for a maximum load of 25 kilowatts, while its connected load was 40 kilowatts, or including street lighting 51, giving a diversity factor of 2. The city, however, had a diversity factor of 6, its maximum load being 1500 k.w., and its connected load 8700 k.w. Riccarton's load was a lighting load, but the city was selling so much power that it was now in the extraordinarily fortunate position that it was looking for night consumers to level up its load factor. Such a position was quite beyoiui the prospect of any small borough, however well administered. The average lighting rate to consumers in the city was 3Jd, running down to 2*d. He asked them to contrast that with Riccarton's flat rate charge of Gd.—(Applause.) Cr Sullivan said that there was a foolish idea in the minds of some local body representatives that the motive behind the Greater Christchurch movement was the desire of the city to exploit the new districts. That certainly was not the case, as the new districts invariably cost the city more to maintain than the city received from them. The central ward at present was finding about 64 per cent, of the entire revenue of Greater Christchurch, but the money spent on it did not exceed 51 per cent., the outside areas getting the advantage of the difference. All the practical advantages of amalgama-! tion would be with Riccarton. At j present the general rate in the j borough was 3 l-8d against 27-8 din the city. Cr Sullivan quoted a numj her of instances showing the effects i of this difference. Another advant-! age that Riccarton would secure! would be that it would be brought j within the city lire area, and have; at its disposal the city fire service.! That was a most important advant- j age, as fire protection was required j for life and property. An independ-1 ent scheme of fire protection would • cost Riccarton a capital expenditure ! of at least £2OOO, and a yearly re- j curring expenditure of £SOO, prob-! ably involving a further increase in i the rales. The city was also able to, offer the advantage of its expert j ollicers, and up-to-date plant, which were beyond the means of any small ■ borough like Riccarton. The speak-; ers replied to a considerable num-1 her of questions. Cr Hampton, of the Riccarton Council, replied to some of the points made. On the motion of Cr J. A. McCullough, who said that the speakers had convinced him that it was desirable to join greater Christchurch,! and seconded by Mr Waddell, a j hearty vole of thanks was accorded ; Crs Taylor and Sullivan. After the meeting a considerable j number of those present remained behind, and formed a committee,with ! the Mayor as chairman, to go further j into the question of amalgamation! with the city.