Counties May Lose Subsidy

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32321, 12 June 1970, Page 24

Counties May Lose Subsidy

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 11. A warning of possible withdrawal of Government subsidies to some counties was given today by the Minister of Works (Mr Allen). The Minister complained to the Counties Association In Dunedin of the “apparent lack of intention of a large number of counties to meet the requirement of the Town and Country Planning Act that an operative district scheme be provided by January 1 next” He told the counties’ representatives: “You have heard several pleas from me on this topic. “And now, those of you who are involved must realise that the time for requests has passed and the time for demanding that you do the job has arrived.” Mr Allen said it should not be necessary for the Government to push counties into recognising their duties to their ratepayers. “Effective long-term planning by the Government, by local authorities, and by public and private organisations, increasingly demands a clear indication of local planning policy,” he said.

Mr Allen also pleaded with county council representatives to start a cleanup campaign of derelict buildings. “There are a lot of derelict buildings, farm buildings and others, littering our countryside and detracting from the beauty of the environment," he said.

“You have the powers to

serve a notice on the landowner to remove an objectionable element from his land under section 34A of the Town and Country Planning AcL I wish you would use them on these things.”