GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7331, 18 February 1902, Page 1

GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

DISCUSSION BY LOCAL BODIES. SYDENHAM. At .the meeting of the Sydenhanv Borough Council last evening, a letter was received from the City Council enclosing a copy of the resolution passed, .asking local bodies obtain the views of the ratepa y :rs on the Greater Christchurch question. Councillor Hadfield moved— "That the letter be received, and a reply sent that ., at. present there is no manifested desire by the Sydenham ratepayers for such an amalgamation, but that so soon as theye is such feeling, the Council will be prepared to submit tb? Greatei Christchurch' question ta them.;' He repudiated the . statement that councillors had any personal feeling in ■ the matter. Councillor Miller seconded the motion. _He referred to the unneighbouriy. spirit sho^'n by the City Council, and the* sleepy, sluggish mariner in which they carried out their duties. He considered Sydenham - "was-in advance of Christchurchj and would not benefit by any amalgamation. , Councillor Bowden said that he would prefer to see the motion carried without comment. Councillor Jones spoke strongly of the' discourteous and high-handed manner in which the City Council had always Seated the ; local bodies, and to which was due the present feeling of distrust. If the amalaga- ' mation was. to, benefit Sydenhajpa let it be earned ,out, but all the big municipal works could be carried out without . 1 any sacrifice of independence. The Mayor also; supported the . resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr j. H. Newlyh, honorary secretary of the City and Suburban Burgesses^ Association, "forwarded for the consideration of the Council the resolution carried by the Association, recommending that a Joint Committee of representatives be set up to consider the advisability of. amalgamation of the city and local bodies in to one municipality.' It was decided to forward a reply similar to that to be sent to the City Council. '■■■■- ."- ■■■■,':.. '.;■■■

LINWOOD. • At the meeting of the Linwood' Borough CouE-cil last evening, a letter was read irian, . tjie City and Suburban;. Burgesses' Association enclosing the following lesolution:-*---"That in view. oi -tihe various matters -of public 'utility pressing . fan settlement, : and considering the community of interests, aid the interdependent position of i>he .City* and surrounding iboroughs, this Association is of opinion, that a .joint committee. of representatives from the City. and\ 'boroughs should at once be set up to;, formulate .an equitable basis of amalgamation: of 'the said City and boroughs into one municipality; with equitable representation.". THe City CJouncil alsw wrote forwarding the follovring resplutfti, which had •been' carried by/ the Council r^-" As there appears to he a ctirab't about local feeling on the question of a Greater Christchurch, this Council would urge upon the local bodies most particularly interested,' the advisability of taking a vote of ihe'. ratepayers in the districts referred to, as to whether they wish to join the City or.notL" ; Councillor. Seed, in moving that the letters be received,- said he thought the suggested action was premature, as no scheme had 'been laid before the. Council, .and at the present time' there was no provision in the; Act for taking a poll. However, it • was a matter that v should' receive; their iinmediiate -attention.' He had .spoken to '■» nuni; ber of '.who .."were ..all. \:ift...favpur df tie ,am'algamatibh scheme; Unless there was <an ainal^iaanatioh of Chni^tchurch and the fiiirfcrunding, boroughs,, it /was evident that .there would be considerable difficulty in ■ carrying" out such large "works as ; : the mundcipalisationv of the tramways '.or; the providing of the district with electric power and Ireht. 'He moved.-: "That -with ■& view of seriously considering- the question of amalgamating- with the- City' owing to the increasing growth of feeling amongst ratepayers throughout the district in favour of forming a Oreater Christchurch, • a . special committee be set up to • collect all information - ielatiinc thereunto, and to "formulate an equitable T>asis of amalgamation, and) report at the next' ordinary .meeting of the Council ; such committee to consist of the Mayor and Councillors' Brown, Jameson, :Cleworth, Otleyamd the, mover." . ..'■■' Councillor; Brunt seconded the motion,: and said that the suggested •'•■ committee would be able to go. 'thoroughly into the question and obtain all -informatioii possible, which could be laid bef otc any public meeting which might ba called to consider the question; Although there was a great dealof difference of opinion on the matter, he was satisfied that there were many things whiiohthe borough would gain by amalgamation. The various municipal services could be better and 1 more cheaply, carried out if worked upon a large-scale, and the borough would probably gain many advantages which it did not possess, at present. : Council Jameson, was/surprised at the City Council asking the Council to take a vote of the" ratepayers on the question. The Councillors were elected by the rate: payers, and should speak as the mouthpiece of the ratepayers. He objected to the suggestion that the borough should be absorbed by Chrisfch'urch. It should be an integral porfTon of a Greater Christohurch, in which Linwood should be quite as good as the city. Councillor Brown supported the motion. At the same time he thought the resolution of the City Council was very crude. It should have been prepared to lay some proposal before the outside bodies to induce them to join. There were many ways in which Lin-wood would benefit by the amalgamation, but. there were points, financial and otherwise, -which. mu«t be considered, and this could be done by the proposed committee. He believed that, centralisation would reduce the cost of maintaining the outside 'boroughs. Councillor Wagstaff moved as an amendment—"That the City Council be asked to draw up a scheme, giving reasons why Linwood should join the city." This h« eventually agreed to withdraw. Councillor, Cleworth thought, as members of the Council, they should face the mat. ter and get all the information, possible, before deciding upon any mode of action. He maintained that it was the duty of the City Council to formulate a scheme and lay the same before the outside boroughs before asking them to come Jo any decision; If the City Council wore sincere in their desire for a Greater Chrißtchuroh they would formulate such a scheme, and then, tha boroiighs would be prepared to dye it intelligent consideration, If he found it to the benefit of Linwood be would uphold it, but if not, he would oppose it. It was certain that by amalgamation, many large works could be. carried out the boroughs could not «irry out single-handed. They should, however, be told the basis' of representation, and the terms on which the borough would 'be taken in. The Mayor said he understood that the present action *of the City Council was intended merely to get some expression of opinion from the outride bodies before taking any steps to formulate a scheme. A Greater Christchurch would certainly come in time, whether they liked it or not, but it might be some time before it was an accomplished fact. In the meantime it was the duty of the City Council to take the lead in the matter, and bring up a scheme which would show what the proposals actually meant. The. motion was then put and earned. Later on Councillor Brown movedr-. "That the City Council be asked to formulate some scheme as to basis of taxation,

and generally the terms on which it is proposed the amalgamation * should take place." ' This was seconded by Councillor Wagstaff, and carried. .