Statement verified by Minister

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32902, 28 April 1972, Page 10

Statement verified by Minister

The Heathcote County Council last evening received a letter from the Minister of Works (Mr Allen) in which he agreed that he had said he was not prepared to waste any more of the National Roads Board’s funds on the second transport study as requested by the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority. The council had written to Mr Allen asking him to verify the statement.

Mr Allen said that while he agreed that the sentence quoted was was almost correct the comment was made on a broader contect that would be inferred by reading just the words on their own.

“As you will be aware the board received an application from the Regional Planning Authority for an extension of the board’s subsidy to meet escalating costs on the transportation study review.

“After some discussion the board deferred a decision on the request pending confirmation that the contributing local authorities are in agreement with the review extensionsand are willing to

accept the additional costs involved. "While the board recognises the need for periodic updating of these studies to accommodate normal variations in the pattern of social and economic growth experienced in any area, it is becoming less sympathetic towards subsidising expensive reviews where substantial disruptions in the reading investment programme are occurring. “It was in this context that I voiced my feelings against wastage of board funds on transport study reviews,” said Mr Allen. The council agreed to refer the letter to the town planning committee. The committee chairman (Mr R. H. T. Thompson) said the letter needed to be read several times.

; Additional costs for the Town Hall totalled $52,000, ■ the council was told. It was : agreed to pay a proportional > share of $1570, which coun- : cillors said was very satis--1 factory. “It’s $l2OO down the [ drain,” said Cr J. S. Scott j when the council voted not [ to refer a suggestion that the . Hollis Avenue pond be filled ’ to reduce its depth to 2ft at a cost of $l2OO back to the ; works committee. The pond at present is 3ft deep and councillors were concerned at the danger to children. Cr Scott thought ■ that the $l2OO could have ■ been put to better use. The council agreed to support the Government in protesting at the French nuclear tests in the Pacific and will write to the Government on these lines. A tender of $11,685.70 submitted by British Pavements (Canty) Ltd, for the reconstruction of Port Hills Road near Martindale Road was accepted by the council. There was one other tender for $12,278. The council agreed to negotiate with British Pavements for the extension of the contract by another four chains. Property owners would be advised of the date work would begin when the council heard from the contractor. Grants were provided in the 1972-73 estimates as follows:— Christchurch Arts Festival, $B4; Christchurch Civic Music Council, $7O; Christchurch Civic Orchestra, $654; Defensive Driving Council, $33; Ferrymead Trust, $672; Christchurch Aged Peoples Welfare Council, $2B; New Zealand Clean Air Society, $6.