Ombudsman rejected

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32587, 22 April 1971, Page 1

Ombudsman rejected

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, April 21. For the fourth time in five years, the Municipal Association has rejected any suggestion that it needs an Ombudsman to watch over local body affairs.

The latest move to obtain a local-body Ombudsman came in the form of a remit from Takapuna City Council to the association’s conference, being held in Auckland this week. Previous remits seeking s local-body Ombudsman wen rejected by conferences it 1967, 1968, and 1969. Introducing the remit, th< Mayor of Takapuna (Mr A F. Thomas) said that previou; remits on the subject ha< been defeated on questions o detail. “This time, we are askini the conference to sign if; approval in principle an< leave it to the executive t< work out the details with thi Government,” he said. Supporting the remit, th<

. Mayor of Porirua (Mr W. J. j Brown) said: “Local bodies 4 have nothing to fear and ' nothing to hide.” 1 The Mayor of Onehunga 1 (Mr T. V. G. Beeson) said that the position of Ombudsman had been created to cater for 1 mistakes by officials of Government departments which could not otherwise be rectia fieri without considerable ® difficulty. p Mistakes by local government officers, however, could 9 be rectified quite easily by local councillors, he said. is