DEPUTATIONS TO BOARD

Press, Volume C, Issue 29468, 21 March 1961, Page 17

DEPUTATIONS TO BOARD

Policy Criticised Bv Mayor

The Local Governmen* Loans Board’s policy of having officers and not members meet deputations was criticised bv the Mayor of Riccarton (Mr E. J. Bradshaw) last evening. Mr Bradshaw told a mee’irfg of the Riccarton Borough Council the policy was a “bad thing” and it was time it was revised. He was commenting on the board’s recent refusal to sanction a loan for drainage work, and the meeting to discuss the refusal between officers of the board and local body representatives. “We were told at the meeting it was the policy of the board that members did not meet deputations.” he said.

“As elected representatives of the people who are vitally concerned with drainage we should not be denied access to loans board members to find out the whys and wherefores of the situation "Another point is that reports by the officers to the board are confidential.” he said.

Mr Bradshaw said he was not criticising the members —only the policy. “I imagine it is a policy which has been handed down for many years.” he added. Nearly all discussion at the meeting had involved the Borough of Riccarton, Mr Bradshaw said.