‘No apology’ for use of surplus

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33865, 10 June 1975, Page 1

‘No apology’ for use of surplus

Use of surplus funds from the Municipal Electricity Department for Queen Elizabeth II Park needed no apology, said the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. G. Hay) at the city council's estimates committee meeting last evening.

‘Tt has long been recognised that Queen Elizabeth II Park has a much wider significance than the City of Christchurch alone. By the means proposed, part of the cost of the park will be met from a wider base than the city ratepayers alone,” he said.

M.E.D, income comes from the city, all of the Waimairi [County, and parts of the Paparua and Heathcote coun- ' ties. “Electricity is used uni-; ‘versally—there is no home! or business installation with-1 out it and thus in the present instance all of the M.E.D.’sl area of supply will be mak-[ ing a contribution indirectly! towards Queen Elizabeth II [ Park,” he said. Some left He said that the transfer of $497,803 to offset expenses at Queen Elizabeth II Park would still leave $414,000 in the M.E.D. account for capital expenditure, and an estimated credit balance of $86,397 in the M.E.D. appropriation account at March 31,1 !next year.

j "This compares with debits (of $214,800. $656,288 and [51,202,936 in each of the : three previous years,” he ‘said.

The amount to be transferred will be sufficient to I meet the loan charges on the!

park this year ($205,453) and an estimated working deficit for the year of $292,350. Further capital expenditure at the park this year is estimated to cost $69,291, which includes $50,000 to convert the old trotting grandstand to a dormitory for accommodation for the National Coaching School if it should come to Christchurch.

This $50,000 was a late item to the council’s estimates and was included only after $100,050 had been pruned from planned capital expenditure at the park, including an $BO,OOO item for

the installation of floodlights for soccer. “Unfair blame” Sir Robert Macfarlane said that it was unfair to blame the previous Labour administration for costs at Queen Elizabeth II Park because the costs were incurred really through the running of the Commonwealth Games and would have been there whatever site had been chosen. "Had the Games been held at Porritt Park and the Centennial Pool they would have been a liability,” he said.