DIVIDED CONTROL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10416, 21 March 1912, Page 1

DIVIDED CONTROL.

CITY COUNCIL. TRAMWAY BOARD AND DRAINAGE BOARD. A PLEA FOR AMALGAMATION. EXTENSION OF CITY BOUNDARIES URGED. A unanimous expression of opinion was. forthcoming from the City Council in favour of Councillor A. S. Taylor's motion—" That this Council is of opinion that it is now advisable that the works of the Tramway and Drainage Boards should come under the control of the City Council; that a committee consisting of a representative from each ward bo set- up to report as to the best means of effecting such amalgamation ; and that the committee be empowered to expend a sum not exceeding £SO in obtaining such professional and expert assistance as it may deem necessary to collect sufficient data upon which to base its report." Councillor Taylor said that his motion was a step towards complete organisation of the city's affairs. Christchurch was paying far more than other cities for its engineers, for instance. He did not condemn the Tramway Board', under which the city had a first-clnss tramway system, but the construction of lines was approaching an end, and the work could bo taken orer by the Council. The' Drainage Board, on the other hand, had got right out of touch with the people and their needs, and duplicated a good deal of work. He had no doubt that the committee would find that as the work of the Drainage and Tramway Boards extended beyond the, city it would be necessary to extend the city's boundaries. He favoured a very wide extension, taking in Riccarton,- Pa pan ui and Cashmere, and he was convinced that a great deal of support would he forthcoming for an extension right down to New Brighton. It would also be found necessary to extend the municipal offices and erect a Town Hall. It was too much to hope for a Bill before Parliament this year to provide for tho amalgamation, but it should be drafted before the Council went out of office next March.

Councillor Hunter seconded the motion. The work of local bodies had clashed in the past, lie stated, and the lime was ripe for the amalgamation of the local bodies mentioned in the motion. He urged the extension of the city boundaries. Councillor W. ft. Smith sta'ed that the. work of local bodies was at present continually overlapping, a stato of affairs which would be altered by the amalgamation of the local bodies concerned. There would he a great saving in having all the work carried out by one staff. Councillor Holland said that a largo number of ratepayers did not know that the Council was acting as a rate collector for a number of the local bodies. He strongly supported the amalgamation of all local bodies.

Councillor Miller supported the motion, stating that the amalgamation would be absolutely necessary as the citv extended.

Councillors Tilliams and Burgovne also spoke supporting the motion.

The Mayor stated there could ba no doubt that there was a leakage in the works carried out by the local bodies. He would like to go further than the motion proposed and have the surrounding boroughs united with the city. C'hristchurch had suffered to a considerable extent by the overlapping of work done by its local bodies. Each body did its best for the city, but in many cases that work had been nullified by the inefficient system by which they were controlled. The Trannvay Board had always fulfilled its duties satisfactorily. He considered that an Act of Parliament could he passed by which the Tramway Hoard and Drainage Hoard could be amalgamated with the City Council. He was of the opinion that if New Brighton could bo brought into Greater Christ-church the Council cou'ld make the seaside resort one of the most popular in the dominion. He was strongly of opinioTi that Lyttelton would have to become a part- of Christchurch if it was to he made the great centre it would have to be in the future. The motion was carried., and Councillors Morris, Burgovne, E. Smith and A. S. Taylor, with the .Mayor ex-of-ficio. were appointed the committee.