GOVT PRESSES FOR REFORM

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33155, 20 February 1973, Page 14

GOVT PRESSES FOR REFORM

The Minister of Local Government (Mr May) told the Christchurch City Council last evening that he was anxious to see a reoganisation of local government: but was unable to give any definite information.

He was replying to al letter from the council* saying it had endorsed the Local Government Commission’s final area scheme for North Canterbury but was concerned that the poll provisions would continue to be used to frustrate effective reorganisation. The Minister said he was having the provisions of the

: Local Government Commisjsion Act reviewed; and as part of the review the desirability of changing the poll provisions would be considered. The Minister of Works (Mr Watt) also wrote to the council saying that there was an urgent need to extend the boundaries of . the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority. He recommended the council to join with 15 other local bodies to prepare a regional; planning scheme for the whole area. The area recommended takes in Rangiora and Oxford ■ counties to the north, the whole of Banks Peninsula i and the Ellesmere county to the south. To this, the council agreed ito tell the Minister that it desired first to implement the commission’s area scheme, which it said would dispose of some problems associated with the proposed extension of the planning authority’s boundaries.