Heathcote comment “misleading”

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32774, 26 November 1971, Page 10

Heathcote comment “misleading”

Figures relating to Heathcote County quoted by Mr B. H. Easton, a lecturer in economics at the University of Canterbury, in an article in “The Press” yesterday were out of date and misleading, the county council was told last evening.

Mr Easton asserted that if Heathcote spent relatively as much on amenities as the Christchurch City Council, Heathcote rates would be much higher than those in the city. He went on to analyse spending per capita in the city and the county under various headings. Mr Easton’s remarks made disquieting reading, said the county chairman (Mr E. L. Tyndall). Mr Easton’s allegations were quite contrary to fact. His figures were based on the council’s accounts for 1969-70. “MISLEADING STATEMENT” 1 would say that a lecturer on economics at the university should be up to date with his information instead of supplying such a misleading statement," Mr Tyndall said.

The County Clerk (Mr K. D. Stills) said that in 1969-70, on a population of 7536, the county had spent 101.4 c a head on parks and reserves, 4.5 c a head on other sports facilities, 20.6 c on libraries and music, 0.4 c on educational activities, 39c on the town hall, and 8.7 c in grants and donations.

In 1970-71, the figures were 370.1 c a head for reserves, 1c for other sports, 34.2 c for libraries, 6.6 c for the Civic Orchestra, o.lc for educational activities, 39c for

the town hall, and 21.9 c in grants and donations.

The council had remitted $542 in rates on the Sign of the Takahe, owned by the City Council and leased by it, and this year had written off another $573, with similar dispensations in previous years, in effect, grants to the City Council. The City Council owned land such as Victoria Park in the county which was not rateable.

This year, said Mr Stills, the county had spent $29,962 on land for reserves, and this would substantially add to the amount spent per head. Last year, a token grant of $5OO was made to the reference library, but this year’s payment was $2137. “EMBARRASSED” Cr R. H. T. Thompson, himself a lecturer, said he was a learner in local government who was conscious of how much he still had to learn. He was embarrassed that academics who talked about local government often did not know what they were talking about. “It would appear from the figures quoted now that the figures given by Mr Easton were not accurate. They could have been corrected by a telephone call,” Mr Thompson said. “I am not aware that Mr Easton consulted the County Clerk. It would be more helpful if people got their facts right.”