LOCAL BODY ‘TENSIONS’

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31588, 27 January 1968, Page 14

LOCAL BODY ‘TENSIONS’

Comment By Waimairi It was quite clear that an unfair picture of the Christchurch local body scene and of Waimairi County in particular had been painted by Mr P. J. Perry, of the University of Canterbury, in remarks he made at the A. congress, said Waimairi’s chairman (Mr D. B. Rich) yesterday. At the congress on Thursday, Mr Perry referred to problems in counties near Christchurch, and said that Waimairi, with one-eighth of the urban population, seemed to be permanently at odds, and unwilling to co-operate with the city. “Mr Perry, who is two years out from Britain, has painted a picture of Christchurch to the congress visitors which is far from accurate,” said Mr Rich. “1 am surprised that, as a university man, he was not more factual. He says Waimairi has one-eighth of the city’s population, when in fact it has just under one-fifth. “Mr Perry goes on to give the impression that Waimairi is at loggerheads and un-co-operative with everybody. That is far from true. We try to co-operate at all levels. Our staff meets the staffs of other councils on matters of mutual interest. The council co-operates at a regional level, and on such urban questions as the town hall and the control of underground water. “It is a great pity to hear persons in responsible positions make such ill-founded statements. I would suggest that Mr Perry has been misinformed.”