Heated debate at Waimairi

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33052, 20 October 1972, Page 2

Heated debate at Waimairi

Interjections, threats to have members of the public removed, accusations, and a walk* out by about a dozen members of the public enlivened the meeting of the Waimairi County Council last evening.

The disruption occurred after Cr W. T. Rice raised again his opposition to the county’s system of riding accounts. Cr Rice has regularly spoken against the riding accounts system for about seven years. Last night he was accused by other councillors of bringing a “primed audience” to support his case of “antics,” “outbursts,” and having a “warped idea of democracy.” The county chairman (Cr D. B. Rich) said that the main interjector was not a Waimairi resident, that another who led the walk-out was neither a resident nor a ratepayer, and that yet another was a person known widely as a demonstrator for numerous causes.

Councillors said they were disgusted and appalled at Cr Rice’s behaviour in bringing such a group of supporters to the meeting. SPECIAL REPORT

The affair started when the report of a special meeting of the finance, traffic and by-laws committee was received. The committee had considered the abolition of riding accounts and recommended no change. Cr Rice spoke to the report, and spoke at length against the riding account system. His address was applauded by a section of the gallery. Cr Rich started to say the matter had been before the council several times, when a young interjector broke in, shouting that councillors

I "had an interest” in retaining I the riding account system. f Cr Rich, who had earlier ! warned against interjections, told the young man to leave. ■ There was more shouting be- ; fore he did so, and about 12 ; others also rose loudly expressed their dissatisfaction, I and walked out. “They’re not ■ your rates . . .” one shouted, i Mr Rich said the facts of ' the financial system’s operai tion were not as had been ' represented. Cr Rice had ■ made sweeping and inaccui rate statements, he said. Studies by staff and others ■ had shown there would be ino saving from abolishing riding accounts. Cr Rice had struck a high rate in his riding, and had been able to afford works the other ridings could not afford. “SMEAR CAMPAIGN” The Audit Department had investigated “the smear campaign against the council” and had found nothing unsatisfactory, he said. It was

disturbing to see so many of public had been misled, and that some were contemplating legal action against the council. This would be to no avail. Cr I. G. Clark said he objected to the remarks of Cr Rice’s “friends.” “I feel insulted. I have no financial interest in preserving the status quo.” He was appalled that a councillor would bring “a bunch of people who are not prepared to listen to the other side. If that is his idea of democracy, it is very warped. “I am appalled that one of us would stoop to this sort of thing. I am not prepared to be a councillor if this is what is going to be dished up,” Cr Clark said. Cr J. B. Russ said newer councillors were wondering what was behind Cr Rice’s “frequent outbursts.” He had made no secret of wanting amalgamation, and he was “bleeding” his ratepayers to make Papanui riding seem worse off than the city. “I am disgusted to sit at the same table as a person who would raise such a thing in such a manner,” Cr Russ said.

Cr Rice had obviously had so little to say at the special meeting on the question because he was waiting to make his statement in front of his primed audience, Cr L. J. G. Franks said. Cr A. A. Adcock said he too was opposed to the riding accounts system, which he believed had outlived its usefulness.