WHERE LIE INTERESTS OF ASHBURTON COUNTY?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19034, 1 April 1930, Page 9

WHERE LIE INTERESTS OF ASHBURTON COUNTY?

Whether Ashburton Borough and County were more interested, socially and economically, in Christchurch than in Timaru, was debated at the conference in Christchurch of town planning areas to-day. The general opinion appeared to be that Ashburton had >ts greater community of interest with Christchurch. When Mr A. R. Galbraith, City Engineer, was asked to give his idea of a minimum area for Christchurch and surrounding districts, he stated that the district should not be made smaller than that bounded by the Rakaia and Hurunui Rivers. Mr R. Galbraith (Mayor of Ashburton) : Why has the City Engineer excluded Ashburton ? The City Engineer: I gave the minimum area, but I believe that Ashburton should be included in it, as that county has a greater leaning towards Christchurch than towards Timaru. The Mayor of Ashburton: But its nearer Timaru. All the other suggestions for suitable areas gave the southern boundary as the Rangtitata River, thereby including the Ashburton County. It was argued that ffiiost of the trade from the county went through Christchurch to Lyttelton. In recommending that the area should be the joint districts of the North Canterbury and the Ashburton Hospital Boards, Dr T. Fletcher Telford, Medical Officer of Health for Canterbury and Westland, said that, though the Ashburton Hospital Board was separate from the North Canterbury body, the former was assisted by the latter in cases of radium treatment. On the other hand, the tubercular cases in Ashburton were sent to the Waipiata Sanatorium, in Otago Mr F. Langbein, representing the Main Highways Board, stated that when giving evidence before the Committee at Timaru he found that the northern boundary of the South Canterbury area was the Rangitata River, which was the southern bound; /y of the Ashburton County. The Ashburton Borough was in the No. 16 Highways District, and the speaker was of opinion that the Ashburton County had a greater community of interest toward* Christchurch than towards Timaru.