Merger door not closed

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33883, 1 July 1975, Page 15

Merger door not closed

The Local Government > Commission had not closed the door on an amalgamation of Akaroa, Heathcote and Mount Herbert counties, said the chairman of the Akaroa County Council (Mr T. J. Brocherie) at a council meeting. He was commenting on a letter to the three councils in which the commission; asked to be informed of any changes. The councils, on! April 15 asked for favourable consideration of an amalgamation scheme. The commission has given long and careful consideration to this proposal.”

said the reply, from the; commission’s chief executive officer (Mr K. B. O’Connor). “Especially did it note; that in its annual report for 1973. the then commission stated that . . . the union of the districts of Heathcote. Paparua, Mount Herbert and

Akaroa counties would represent amalgamation for amalgamation's sake. “This, it is apparent, was! because the then commission! had concluded, following an investigation it described ‘as of such scope, intensity and thoroughness as has never 11 before been attempted’ that-* the whole of Heathcote ( County, along with major portions of Mount Herbert and Paparua counties, should : appropriately form part of , the district of Christchurch , City. "It may be of some bear- i ing that the present proposal does not include Paparua. It may also be that since the previous commission’s in-; vestigations, circumstances have arisen which, in the Treasury posting. — Mr J Brian Tyler, a divisional; director in the Treasury, has been seconded to the Com- , monwealth Secretariat in . London as an adviser to Com- ! monwealth Government on j the development of natural resources. The initial appointment is for two years, begin- ; mng next month. —(P.A.) view of the Heathcote, ; Akaroa and Mount Herbert '

councils, are of significance and should now be takeninto account.” •GOOD CHANCE' Mr Brocherie said he! thought the councils had a good chance as they had a good case, but Wairewa) County had to join the ap-j proach. All were in a com-’ munity of interest. He said the four councils had worked together exceptionally well on noxious' weeds and hydatids control.! There were other associations, including engineering ■‘help from Akaroa for Heath- ! cote. “We have proved we can get along together, and this is the best basis for amalgamation,” said Mr Brocherie.

“We must have further talks, i! with Wairewa (which has,, iso far, stood out) and I hope they will see the light as we, see it.” Cr A. J. Boleyn said the commission was looking at! Heathcote, on the edge of; .!Christchurch City, separatedfrom it by “a little creek.” “It gets back to what > people want,” said Mr Bro- ■ cherie. “If enough don’t! 11 want to go in a certain .(direction, why should they ■ be forced to do it?” S “The powers that be see it the other way,” said Cr Boleyn. i “People are the thing, and swe will have to resist that ■ sort of thinking,” said Mr . Brocherie.