TOWN HALL OR ROADS?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11029, 18 March 1914, Page 7

TOWN HALL OR ROADS?

DISPUTE IN RICCARTON. COUNCIL GETS A WARNING. FOLLOWING A BAD LEAD. A strong deputation of taxpayers waited upon the Riccarton Borough Council last evening in regard to the proposal to erect a town hall. Mr Hampton, who introduced the deputation, said that he understood the Council proposed spending £1250 on a town hall and offices for the, district. He was there not to. ask them to reconsider their decision, .but to take a plebiscite on the'matter at the coming Mayoral election. He stated that every member of the_ Council ha-d pledged himself in his pre-election speeches to support the spending of money on roads before considering the erection of public buildings. The chief reason tbey had seceded from the Waimairi. County Council was because the Council had insisted' on erecting public buildings before attending to the roads,' and now this Council was adopting the same policy. Ten _or twelve years hence would be time enough to think of erecting a town hall in Riccarton. Mr Tasker stated that no metal had been placed on roads in the borough since the Council came into office. The presence of a town hall was desirable but not necessary. He was sorry to say that the Council had followed in the footsteps of the Waimairi County Council. He protested against their action in deciding to build a town hall without appealing so the people. Every penny the Council had was required for the upkeep of the roads. Mr Hannah said that the works of the Council should come ,in their proper order. The roads should be the first consideration. , _ ' Tii reply, the Mayor (Mr J. Reynolds) said, "that the total cost of the land and offices would, be £1700., the interest on this amounting to £BS 6s. He estimated that the debt incurred would be £506. This would leave! a rent for offices, yards and. stables of £35. They were now paying £32 10s 6d for the present meeting room and the small town clerk's office, which were utterly unsuitable as Council offices, and had no conveniences whatever. Lytteltoii ratepayers were taking' a poll on the question of expending £7OOO on the erection of a town hall, capable of seating 800 people. He did not think for ft moment that Lytteltoii rodents expected to derive any revenue from the town hall to cover the interest on their outlay, but they recognised it would supply a long-felt . want. Ricr carton residents had at present no place in which to hold meetings. • He was almost certain the hall would be a paying proposition. Mr Hampton said that as a business man he could safely say the hall would not be a paying proposition. As for Lyttclton taking a poll of ratepayers, that was all he wanted for Riccarton. He ventured to say that if each mem-: ber of the council had to be elected at the coming elections on the question of town hall or no town hall, not one would retain his seat on the Council., The Mayor promised that the matter would be considered by the Council, but said he could not hold out any hope of a favourable reply.