CITIZENS’ ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17179, 24 October 1923, Page 7

CITIZENS’ ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meetng of the Christchurch Citizens and Ratepayers Association was held last evening, Mr J. •V. Frostick presiding. The annual report (already published) was read and adopted. Miy Fi'ostick reviewed the work of tho past year and said the membership was now nearly 1000. Tho special task Mi at tho association should applv itself to was to the creating of a spirit of community of interest. In prooosing the t-aost of “ Our City and its Governing Bodies.” Mr Machin oaid a tribute to the men who had Seen responsible for the designing of Christchurch. He referred to the resignation as Town Clerk of Mr H. R. Smith and Mr Smith, he was sure he had made a fFiend of nearly everyHodv in Christchurch. Mr H. J. Otley, in resending, referred to the opening of the Fresh Vir Home and stressed the advantages that it would confer on the city. The Mayor (Mr J. A. Flesher) said he was the forty-third Mayor of Ohristchjirch. Many of the men who had occupied the mayoral chair had been men of distinction. He believed she South Island would faro better if they had separate Parliaments for each Island. The following officers were elected : President, Mr A. T. .J. Alpers; vicepresidents, Messrs Andrew Anderson H. D. A eland, G. T. Booth, G. Scott’ Norton Francis, J. H. Rhodes and A. F. Carey: honorary treasurer, Mr J. O. Jameson ; honorary secretary, Mr M. Charters; general committee, Messrs A. T. Smith, J. D. Grav J A Flesher, J. W. Beanland, J. E.'Oooper w - W. Charters, D. Rouse, J. w! Baty, C. L. M’Crostie, O. TV. B Anderson, C. Buchanan, A. TV. Beaven. Norton Francis, TV. Hayward, F TV Hobbs, H. Holland, A. M’Kellar, A F. Wright, TV. Machin, Stronach Paterson A. F. ray ton, 8. TV. Jameson, A. Manliire, H. J. Otley, IT. R. Il&nS er s -L TTilliams, H. G. Livingstone. E. H. Andrews, H. Wyles, J. R. Hayward, I . T. Boyce, TV. Soper and Professor T. G. It. Blunt. Mr Alpers, in his inaugural address, reierred to tho great debt of gratitude that the city owed to tho pioneer architects. Ono heard it said that there were too many local bodies. There were not nearly enough. Doing awav with local bodies and centralizing‘was a curso. >School committees, for Instance, had been crowded out and education boards were becoming little better. It was a wonder that any public spirited men could be found to go on to any of these bodies when they were being crushed by centralisation/ -Mr S. I . Marshall, the organising secretary, was introduced to the members.