Transport Bd request not supported

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 22

Transport Bd request not supported

The Riccarton Borough Council decided last night to take no action on a request from the Christchurch Transport Board which sought support for its application for a share of the local authorities petroleum tax levy.

By refusing to give the board its support, Cr R. S. Lester suggested that councillors had “put their heads in the sand. This is one body which could do with the extra money and I believe we should have given the board our support,” he said. Cr Lester moved, that the council support the board's application and Cr R. S. Morris supported this with the proviso that other local bodies joined in and did likewise. This motion was lost and the council decided to take no action.

Cr Morris complained that the detailed monthly reports submitted to the council by the senior traffic officer were wasted on the council and suggested the person involved could do far more good out on patrol. Cr Lester opposed this re-

commendation. Although the present reports were detailed the council was entitled to such information as without it the council would be denied planning future or further methods of traffic control. The council decided to ask the traffic officer to supply the shorter type of monthly report. Cr Lester asked whether the council was prepared to do anything about the number of dilapidated properties in the area. The Mayor (Cr R. J. Harrington) said that on every occasion he had asked the council's building and health inspectors to visit such properties to report on maintenance which needed doing the owners had fully co-oper-ated. Perhaps they tended to leave things to the last minute.

Cr Lester’s motion lapsed for want of a seconder.