Only One M.P. At Local Body Meeting

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30196, 30 July 1963, Page 12

Only One M.P. At Local Body Meeting

South Island local bodies which have Government housing subdivisions in their areas and want the Government to conform to carriageway widths were disappointed when they held a further meeting in Christchurch to enlist the support of their members oi Parliament. Representatives of the Invercargill and Timaru City Councils joined Christchurch City Council members and representatives of counties in the metropolitan area for the meeting Only one member of Parliament. Mr H. L. Pickering (Government. Hurunui) was present There had been a large measure of agreement between the local bodies at a meeting in April, said Mr M R Carter. It had been adjourned to give members of Parliament an opportunity of discussing the proposals and attending another meeting It was most disappointing that only one had attended now. he said.

The meeting agreed to the following subdivisional standards for carriageway widths: minor residential streets, 30 foot carriageway reducible to a minimum of 28 feet at the discretion of the local body; major residential streets, 36 foot carriageway; local arterial routes, 46 foot carriageway reducible to 42 feet; district arterial routes, two 30foot carriageways; cul-de-sacs. 24 feet minimum, with a maximum length of 300 feet.

On the suggestion of Mr J I Colligan (Waimairi). the meeting agreed to ask the Government to comply with the standards. It agreed to send a deputation to the Minister of Housing (Mr Rae) Mr Pickering said his personal view was that all subdividers should abide by the same rules, but he saw a need for flexibility in the rules The Minister had indicated that there should be some new negotiations.