“ COMMONSENSE TO AMALGAMATE.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19098, 17 June 1930, Page 11

“ COMMONSENSE TO AMALGAMATE.”

MR SULLIVAN SPEAKS TO BEACH RESIDENTS.

On the subject of amalgamation of New Brighton with the city, Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., addressed a meeting in the Premier Theatre, New Brighton, last evening. The meeting was convened by the North Brighton and Waimairi Progress Leagues, and the New Brighton Greater Progress Association. It was the second which Mr Sullivan has addressed in New Brighton, the first having been held on Tuesday at South Brighton. The. Mayor of New Brighton, Mr J. 11. Shaw, presided at last night’s meeting, when about sixty people were present. Mr Shaw said that on the subject he had an open mind. There was one question asked of Mr Sullivan which the speaker would like to refer to, as there might have been confusion about the administration costs. New Brighton's administration costs were the fourth lowest in New Zealand. Mr Sullivan said that when the estimates were being considered by the various committees of the City Council, the question as to where the most revenue came from was never asked. The question was, what district needed expenditure most, speaker then quoted figures to show that the general rate paid in by the outer districts was not as great as the amount spent on them. He said that every district which had joined the city had received more in expenditure than it had paid in rates.

“ It is the commonsense aspect of the thing that makes the strongest appeal,” said Mr Sullivan. “We cannot rationally argue that it requires thirteen or fourteen local bodies to administer the affairs of the area round Christchurch.” Mr Sullivan said that there was net the slightest desire on the part of tne people in the central area to exploit the people in outlying districts. He was not at all sure that the people in the city wanted amalgamation, but the best answer was that there was no strong opposition. Experience in business had shown that it was possible to ad minister a large combined area more cheaply than the same, area in a number of small units. Mr Sullivan then detailed the steps necessary for preserving the Wednesday half-holiday in the event'of amalgamation. Speaking on rates,* Mr Sullivan said that at present the . city general rate was smaller than that of New Brighton, lie suggested that* a committee be "set up to investigate the matter. Loans would continue as they were at present, any special loan for New Brighton alone being borne by the borough. Electrical supply and sewerage would remain the same. The only difficulty in the way of amalgamation was that the land controlled by the

Ileathcote Cotinty Council between the city and New Brighton destroyed the continuity of the two areas.