LOCAL ELECTIONS Candidates’ messages

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33654, 2 October 1974, Page 19

LOCAL ELECTIONS Candidates’ messages

MR H. W. THOMPSON, Citizens, Waimairi area, .Drainage Board: While representing the area, my aim has been to act as a liaison between the county council, individual ratepayers and the board. It is particularly important that the council and its ratepayers should know not only what the board is doing, but why it is doing it. Conversely, there are times when a point •of view has not been made as plain as it should be to the board’s staff, and I can follow it up. What the board •can do is limited by the amount of money it has to 'spend. Whether money is • borrowed or • spent out of •revenue, it is the ratepayer who ultimately foots the bill. Rates are already too high, so drainage works have to proceed in a steady order •of priority. The most urgent priority is for the upgrading •of the treatment works, which will cost ssm. We are fortunate to have an able and 'dedicated staff who do their best to get the greatest possible use from the money available while still complying with the Government <audit regulations.

I4IR B. J. BRITTEN, Citizerc, south ward, City Council: Some basic issues the new administration must tackle arer (1) A strenuous campaign to improve our streets and tfootpaths, particularly in the pouth ward. (2) Clean up and keep clean Cathedral Square, using water in the process. (3) Convert Centennial Park, now a useless wast eland, into a native bush reserve with a lido pool and cultural centre. (4) Reverse the present council policy on what are currently sign posted “clearways.” “Clearways” and “tow-aways,” particular ly in Colombo and Lichfield Streets are totally unreasontible to all concerned, and a type of law enforcement vtnacceptable to New Zealanders. (5) Greater dispensation for home-owners in the older residential areas who fincf their large sections proving a burden, but who are unabde to subdivide because town planning regulations prevent it where properties are less than 40 perches. Many attractive town houses and flats are built on ijo more than 15 perches of land and this could be an answer to our land shortage and escalating section pri<:es.

MRS D. JACKSON, Independent, Wa imari, Hospital Board: Over the last three years I have greatly e njoyed and appreciated the opportunity to work for the community on the hospital bo:vd. I have

served on the works and Cashmere subsidiary committees, and although not a member of the institutions committee have attended most meetings because this committee is responsible for major health policies. It is here that my physiotherapy background has been most useful. As a board representative on the Aged Peoples’ Welfare Council and a member of the executive of the Christchurch Coordinating Council for the Handicapped, I am involved in moves which will improve the welfare of these people. These links will lead to closer co-operation between organisations, a step I feel is essential. We must ensure the best use of resources within the community and if re-elected I hope to continue to work towards these ends. Only by co-ordinated planning will we achieve effective health services for

j MRS N. S. KINGSTON, Fendalton riding, Waimari county: After years of community service and having observed local government at work 1 believe I can offer Fendalton residents worth-while representation on the council. Much of my community work has been in the Fendalton area anti I see council work as a logical continuation of my efforts for a healthy environment and protection of our natural assets. In particular I want to see the character of our area retained — and our trees protected. As a councillor, I would promote a by-law requiring the council’s permission before a tree is removed and that for every tree taken a new one! must be planted. To prevent! any unnecessary expensive widening of Fendalton Road I would favour a clearway l system for the remaining! section. An informed electorate is essential as is a regular interchange of views! between council and the! people who elect them as! their representatives.

MR J. RYAN, Citizens, Drainage Board: To the people of Christchurch who three years ago entrusted me with theii vote and in doing so elected me as one of their representatives on the board I say “thank you.” Much has been achieved over this three-year period. There remains a tremendous amount to be done. Christchurch enjoys one of the best sanitary sewer systems for a city of its size in the world and, with the completion of the Bromley modifications and the construction of the northern Christchurch treatment plant, we will be in a position to cope for many years to come. Our board is placing more emphasis now on stormwater reticulation and it will be necessary to put considerable effort and finance in this direction to meet the I demanding problems that I face us at present.

DR J. E. KEITHLEY, Independent, Lyttelton, Akaroa, Wairewa and Mount Herbert, Harbour Board: I I am yitally concerned that i the board will continue to jexpand its interests to ensure, !the continuing prosperity of! Lyttelton, Christchurch, Can-1 terbury and beyond. The near future promises exciting and far-reaching developments. I do not pretend to know and understand all the problems

associated with cargohandling, transport and other port techniques and their [solutions; but I would suggest that few do in these days of rapidly-changing maritime commerce. As a member of the board, however, and as port medical officer for Lyttelton, medical officer to the board itself and a Lyttelton resident, I would seek to combine a local knowledge and daily contact with a genuine regard for ships, shipping and seamen and apply an on-the-spot enthusiasm in what is a very important and exciting undertaking.

MR J. M. McKENZIE, Hillsborough riding, Heathcote county: Hillsborough electors should not be confused by the voting paper which will show two McKenzies. One is R. B. McKenzie and the other myself, John Michael McKenzie. As deputy-chairman of the county and townplanning committee chairman, I have been involved in discussions on negotiations with the Local Government Commission, the Minister, and other parties concerning the future of the county. I am proud to say that Heathcote is in good heart and is financially sound. During my terms of office, through prudent management and capable administration, rate increases have been kept to the bare minimum. The next three years will be the most crucial in the history of the county, and I am seeking reelection because I believe the knowledge and experience of past years of negotiations are essential to protect the interests of Heathcote citizens in the negotiations ahead.

MR A. M. LEEMANSMITH (ton) AND MR R. T. SHIELS, Mini-bus Association, Transport Board: We are the only candidates for the board with a totally new plan to offer. It is a quick-service plan, logical for the incoming board because it will provide the city with 500 buses instead of 200. It will save $6 million in three years, as follows:— 300 owner-driven mini-buses will cost $3 million, which will be lent out to drivers at fair interest, and' recovered in 10 years. They will run over 50 different routes, up to four miles radius from the city centre. They will provide a quicker and nearer service than taxis, but at bus rates. It is realistic to lend money rather than throw it away, as 80 new heavy buses would cost is 3 million as an outright loss. They are deadly slow in busy inner areas, and a rising traffic problem. The present heavy buses would be used only for express nonstop routes to the very many outer suburbs, stopping only at and over four miles out. In slack periods, a reduced number of buses would cover segment, loop and ring routes, with a wider range to factories, schools, shops and the city. All buses, large and small, would be based at or close to drivers’ homes in the suburbs. This doubles ’the frequency of payload j trips in the morning and I evening peak periods, and; Idoubles the revenue. The! 'board would retain all administration and control of; ; routes, fares, time-tables,! !stops, etc. The board could! consider leasing out the! workshop and cleaning,' fuelling and lubricating! plants to staff as contractors,! on conditions. This service!

plan is based on eight years of collecting personal overseas evidence, and on careful research on the finances.

DR D. W. BEAVEN, Heathcote and Peninsula district, Hospital Board: I am New Zealand-born and graduated and was a general practitioner for 18 months before four years specialty training in London. Fulbright and Lilly international fellowships at Harvard in the 1950 s led to my appointment as director of the teaching and research unit at Christchurch and I am professor of medicine and currently chairman of physicians ■ in internal

services for the I board. In 1968-69 I was Professor Invite, Geneva; and did post-graduate teaching and lecturing in Europe. North America and Southeast Asia. Specialised review committees and several trust boards have moulded critical views of central government administrative and management inefficiency. I support decentralised responsibility and regional health autonomy and feel that the proposed White Paper on Health requires advisers and candidates with wide specialised knowledge in patient delivery services, teaching, development, research and administration.

/MRS N. J. JOHNSON, Independent, Heathcote and

Peninsula district, Hospital Board: Some nursing and social work training together with my involvement in, administration as a member of the Canterbury Education Board ■ constitute. I believe, a sound ' background to serve on the , board. I am strongly of the '■ opinion that the essence of local government lies in lay :participation and 1 am also; concerned about the extent toi which politics has enteredinto local body affairs. My; special interests include the special needs of children—separation from parents dur-j ing their time in hospital and the child health clinic—and 1 have also been concerned - with what appears to be inadequate counselling services lat the Christchurch Women's • Hospital. My enthusiasm for and interest in education can, I am sure, be of benefit as the need grows for more inservice and reorientation courses for nursing staff returning to the service. The over-all needs of the nursing and other staff employed by the board are of paramount importance to me.

MR M. R. GOOD, Citizens’, Hospital Board: j The board is responsible; Ifor an annual expenditure of [nearly s4om. In broad terms,' !l believe the board’s func-i [tion is to set the policy to 'enable the administrative [staff to provide the best: ■ possible hospital services for (the patients, and at the [same time ensure that the : finances are utilised to the I best advantage. Experience [as a chartered accountant in | public practice for more than 22 years, active in the[ administration of the Society! of Accountants, auditor and financial adviser to St George’s Hospital for over 20 years, and early training in community service and self-development in the Jaycee movement provide me with the background in administration to be a useful [ and effective member of the board. Outside interests have ' included 17 years as a national hockey administrator I during which I managed three New Zealand hockey ’ teams on tours overseas, including the 1972 Olympic [ Games at Munich.