CHRISTCHURCH SHIP CANAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14209, 25 May 1910, Page 7

CHRISTCHURCH SHIP CANAL.

A NEW MOVE. The Christchureh (Jity Council has •agreed to take the necessary steps to introduce to the next session of Parliament a Bill to provide that tiie Lytiolton Haroour Board .should consist of iilteen members, to be elected by the City of Christchureh, the boroughs of North Canterbury, and the neighbouring counties (Asliburton not included), the representation to be in proportion to population, the Bill to be drafted by the City Solicitor and submitted for approval to the Canal League. The Mayor said that he would have preferred to see a. Bill to take a vote l aLepyyers oil the canal scheme, but the present proposal, in any case, was necessary to prevent the canal scheme falling into oblivion. It might bo that the Canal League iiad miscalculated the oi>inion of the people, but lie thought that there was a strong feeling in favour of a canal. Councillor Cooper said that the outside bodies should have been consulted. Councillor Sorenson said that Christchurch in many respects was being run by the country. It was quite time that the city was allowed to mind its own business. The Harbour Board was opposed to the city on a mistaken ground. He thought that the country districts would reap the greatest benefit from a canal, but apparently the country members did not think so, and the scheme must bo carried through by those in whose hands it lav.

The Mayor said that the cost of the Bill would be very small. There were nineteen members on the Board, of whom twelve were country members and only seven city members, although Christchureh and suburbs had more than half the population of the district concerned. It was also resolved that the Council should join with the Canal League in sending a deputation to Wellington at the time the Bill was to be presented to obtain support for it. It was thought that if the North Island and other members generally were interviewed they would listen to the debate with keener interest, and Councillors Sorensen and Horsley were delegated to join the deputation, Councillor Tliacker and the Mayor bavin" been appointed already by the Canal League.