Ctte studies amalgamation

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34128, 14 April 1976, Page 23

Ctte studies amalgamation

A Christchurch City Council sub-committee is studying the'city’s specific stand on local government reorganisation in the metropolitan area. In the meantime, councillors said last evening. Sir Robert Macfarlane’s suggestion, that the Christchurch Drainage Board and the Christchurch Transport Board could be amalgamated under one elected body, should go! to the same sub-committee. Several councillors were sceptical about uniting onlytwo functions when other services might fall under the (power of a regional authority. J Sir Robert said talks about the idea, among local authorities, might lead to more farranging suggestions for regional government. The Mayor (Mr H. G. Hay) said the sub-committee’s study was, “a matter of some urgency.” Although councillors had spoken out on their

preferences, the council did, not have a specific s'an.d. | Cr Mollie Clark supported! Sir Robert’s call for a conference next month on the smaller issue. "It is better to have a number of bites at this elu- . sive cherry,” she said. “At ■ the moment, we talk around the subject and through it. This is a move in the right direction.” Cr J. F. Burn said the ■ council “should not rubbish it now, but let’s not rush at it like a bull at a gate.” Ecuador curjeii: Ecuador’s armed forces have declared a curfew in Guaranda, 110 miles south ■ of Quito, after the killing of| a student and the arrest of; dozens of other demonstrators protesting against the ; policies of the military junta ■ that took over power in a ■ bloodless coup d'etat three - months ago. — Quito.