Waimairi Chairman Replies

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30919, 27 November 1965, Page 16

Waimairi Chairman Replies

“Cr. Skellerup’s outburst is, to say the least, despicable,” said Mr O. C. Mitchell, chairman of the Waimairi County Council, last evening. “Surely the level of conduct between local authorities calls for a higher standard of ethics than that displayed in this instance.

“In the first place, the area of land concerned is within the Waimairi county and it is therefore in the hands of that authority to decide when the land can be developed. “The council purchased the block of land at the rate of approximately £lB a section,” Mr Mitchell said. “What Cr. Skellerup has conveniently forgotten to mention is that his council’s offer was £450, plus the cost of filling another block of land in the same area belonging to the same property owner.” If Cr. Skellerup cared to analyse statistical facts, he would find that the Waimairi County Council could serve its ratepayers much more economically than the City Council, Mr Mitchell continued. “This I should not have to refer to him because he is a county resident and should, therefore, have his own rate demand at hand.

“Perhaps it would be a surprise to Cr. Skellerup to learn that over the last three years the Waimairi County Council has, through prudent land negotiation, accumulated a fund of £20,000. Does this suggest that the county has acted other than in the interests of its ratepayers? “What he must realise is that other local authorities have shown through performance that they are more capable and efficient than his own organisation. “To refer to the question of other lands in his attack on my council shows that Cr. Skellerup is floundering for facts to substantiate his attack,” Mr Mitchell continued. “In the interests of local government in general I

would respectively suggest that Cr. Skellerup would better serve it if he kept to facts, rather than personal opinion. It is my humble opinion that the county council will be most unfortunate if it does not eventually make more than £lO,OOO out of the land deal it has completed recently.”