Waimairi help conditional

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32565, 26 March 1971, Page 1

Waimairi help conditional

The Waimairi County Council was not prepared to make any extension of financial assistance to City Council projects until the City Council agreed to reciprocal arrangements in other matters specifically in granting Waimairi a share in the administration apd control of the Municipal Electricity Department, said the county chairman (Mr D. B. Rich) yesterday.

Mr Rich said that he wished to make his council’s position quite clear when he was chairman of a meeting of representatives of Christchurch territorial local bodies to discuss finance for metropolitan projects.

Mr Rich, the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr A. R. Guthrey), Cr L Calvert (Waimairi), and Cr H. G. Hay (City Council) exchanged views.

The Mayor of Riccarton (Mr R. J. W. Harrington) commented at the end of the ebate: “Electricity is not on the agenda. I suggest we get back to the subject in hand. The meeting of representatives of the City Council, Waimairi, Paparua and Heathcote county councils and the Lyttelton and Riccarton Borough councils decided to approve in principle that all local bodies be recommended to contribute towards the cost of running the reference section of the Canterbury Public Library and the McDougall Art Gallery. Cr H. G. Hay, asking for assistance for the art gallery, said that attendances had increased from 45,971 in 1967, to 69,387 last year. In 1968, 25 school parties had visited the gallery, 32 in 1969 and 222 last year. The cost of running the gallery had increased from $15,650 in 1968 to $27,250 this financial year.

“But until discussions on the M.E.D. are resolved in our favour, we are not prepared to extend financial assistance in any project in which the City Council is involved,” he said. Cr Calvert said it went

beyond the question of the M.E.D. Waimairi had a large foreshore development scheme, half a m deep, between Broad an Spencer Parks. The council had asked the City Council for land but instead had had a park cut in two.

“These are the sort of things that we have to decide on. We have already made a token payment to the reference library—-but no further," he said.

No purpose? Mr Guthrey: I cannot see, personally, why Waimairi should not be represented on the electricity committee. But while I cannot see any problem in this, I cannot see any purpose to it. Mr Rich: Representation and a share of control of the M.E.D.’ No funds from the M.E.D. were used in community projects of the City Council, replied Mr Guthrey. "The City Council reticulates and supplies Waimairi domestic users with electricity at less than cost. There is no possibility of the M.E.D. providing surpluses for other community uses, so it is difficult to see the purpose of any council having a share in the financial undertaking,” Mr Guthrey said. “All the surpluses and profits are invested back in the undertaking for the benefit of the community. For my part, I cannot see any harm, or any purpose in the suggestion of any council sitting on the City Council electricity committee.”

Mr Rich: That is not what your council says. We have a reply after our recent discussions that your council does not intend to take the matter of representation and control sharing any further because of the Local Government Commission and the Electricity Commission sittings.

“Too dull” Mr Guthrey: I am not a member of the electricity committee. To be frank, I found it too dull. Cr Hay has been on the committee. Cr Hay: I was on the committee, but found it too boring. The M.E.D. is no bonanza. We had a meeting of the finance committee last night to discuss long-term prospects. The biggest headache is the M.E.D. because of its enormous borrowing requirements. Cr Hay said that if the Waimairi County Council could persuade its ratepayers to pay more for electricity it would be a great help . Mr Rich said that the Mayor was speaking for himself when he said he could see no difficulty in Waimairi having representation on the City Council electricity committee. His council had said no to the submissions from Waimairi. Mr Guthrey: We do get a bit tired of being insulted. We have our commitments, and we invite you to participate in those that we feel are community ones. If you do not agree, please say it in a friendly way. There is nothing secret or sinister about the M.E.D. I cannot reconcile your problem, or purpose, in desiring to sit on die electric-

ity committee. There is nothing malicious intended in saying that. Mr Rich: There was no implication of that; none at all. Aid discussed

The meeting then discussed the matter of financial assistance for the reference library and the art gallery. Most representatives considered the case for assistance for the reference library was much stronger than for the art gallery. Cr P. N. G. Blaxall (City Council) said that the art gallery was the only public one in Canterbury. Art history was a subject for school certificate and university entrance, and children from all the local boroughs and councils were being, educated at the gallery, the only place where they could see originals of paintings. Mr Harrington suggested that the assistance of the Education Department should be sought in financing the gallery, and that an appeal should be made to local bodies throughout Canterbury. Discussing assistance to the reference library, Cr Neville said the metropolitan local bodies should confer on the siting and types of libraries. It appeared that there could be overlapping and duplication of facilities.