FUNDS FOR THE BIND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16735, 17 May 1922, Page 11

FUNDS FOR THE BIND.

”| DR/UNACE board votes a ’ £250. y i 1 —_ ;i Subject to ratification by Parliament during the coming session, the Christchurch Drainage Board last night i; voted the sum of £2-30 to the fund ! 1 that is being raised on behalf of the civilian blind. Mr R. D. Martin waited on the ' hoard last evening as a deputation i from til© Citizens’ Committee. He ? outlined the work that had been done 7 by the committee up to the present, i and said that lie had not- hoard one ? complaint against the grant of £IOOO ; made by the City Council. The chairman <Mr ii. J. Otley) said 1 the board thoroughly appreciated the position of the blind and would consider the matter. > In reply to Mr H. Holland, the secretary said the board could only ‘ make a grant out of its unauthorised expenditure, which was limited to £6O- - Holland said h© believed the posii tion could be met by the board. Ono 1 or two persons had raised the question that whatever was voted would have to come from the ratepayers. He had gone into figures a little and had 1 ascertained that the £IOOO which the City/ Council had voted would, on a flat rate, amount to only Is for each ratepayer. And he felt sure no ratepayer would begrudge that amount. Mr F. Burgoyne : There are other amounts going ou to the rates besides that shilling. 1 wouldn't mind if my rates were only that shilling. Mr Holland said he was going to ! move, Eubject to ratification by Parliai ment, that the board agreed to conI tribute the sum of £250. Tie ex

j plained that on a flat rate this reprej rented only threepence from each ratepayer. and he felt perfectly sure it could be done. Air Burgoyne: The Government will ratify it alright. Mr Holland added that lie moved the resolution with a full sense of his responsibilities to the ratepayers of Christchurch. Mr J. W. Beonlnnd seconded the motion. lie thought that the hoard should also do something on its own account, hv voting the sum of £SO provided for unauthorised expenditure. The hoard should deny itself of soineThe chairman : That would he denying itself of everything. Mr Burgoyne said the subject made a very strong appeal to everyone, but as had been stated, the hoard did not have funds for that purpose, and moreover. it was not the place of the ratepayers to provide the money- If the money was needed it was the Government’s duty to provide it. The Govern ment would ratify the vote every time. The Government would allow the hoard to vote the ratepayers* money for the purpose, anil would waste its own money. Air Holland | had stated that it meant only a small i amount from each ratepayer* but it | was all those small items added to- ! get her that made the rates so high. | He believed that- if an agitation was i started throughout the country the ! Government would he forced to take j tho matter up.

Mr Holland : Tt would come out of the people just the same.

Mr Burgoyne: But if the Govern- j ment takes it up everybody pays his share. As it is th© young people escape. . Mr Holland ; The young people have already contributed £75 at two Sunday night concerts. The chairman said he was in favour of t lie motion. He hoped that the people right through th© Dominion i would subscribe to th© fund, ns he j could not conceive of anything as had i as the loss of one’s sight- At tho j same time be agreed with Air Burgoyne } that the hoard was not there for that purpose and that practically the same people would have to subscribe the ! board's contribution ns would have to | subscribe the £IOOO voted by the City Council. Mr F. Storey said he would support Ihe resolution, hub agreed with Mr Burgoyne that it should not he the j pla-oe of the hoard to vote money for tho purposeTho motion was carried, Mr Burgoyne dissenting. After the vote had been taken Mr Bennland expressed surprise that Mr Burgoyne, * recognised Labour man. should have voted against tho motion, because as n rule Labour men were j only too willing to pile things on to j i lie ratepayers. T!>*» chairman: Mr Burgoyne Is j aiw avs fair.