Council study starts

Press, 24 August 1976, Page 3

Council study starts

Regional government arrangements for metropolitan Christchurch will be studied by a committee of the senior executive officers of the six councils and the various local boards.

This decision was reached without dissent at a meeting last evening of members of all the local bodies, convened by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. G. Hay). Six councils and the Drainage, Transport and Catchment boards were represented. The committee would take “a hard-headed, professional look” at how regional government should be tackled, said the Town Clerk (Mr J. H. Gray).

Its suggestions will be referred to a meeting of mayors and local-body chairmen so that if necessary, the committee can continue its local-body policy requirements.

The meeting last night lasted barely an hour, and glossed over the controversial issues of amalgamation. All present were in favour of some form of regional administration. however.

' Mr’Hay said it was no secret that the City Council still wanted a single territorial council to administer the whole of metropolitan Christchurch, and in this view it jwas non-partisan. ,

However, the council recognised that both the past and present Governments wanted a regional approach to local government, and the issue should be approached in a tolerant and broadminded way.

This regional question had in no way altered the City Council’s wish for one council. while the larger suburban councils still wanted three cities, and Heathcote was known to be interested in a Banks Peninsula amalgamation.

“Any allocation of functions between district councils and a possible regional authority should be arrived at on a logical basis,” said Mr Hay. But. when the meeting looked as if it was going to discuss the pros and cons of council amalgamations, Mr D. B. Rich, chairman of the Wai* mairi County Council, said there was “not time for such nonsense.”

He said that while all sorts of “airy-fairy advantages” ;had been trotted out for I regional government, any (change would have to show positive advantages for the ratepayers. Waimairi, he thought, would be happy to co-operate. > The point was made that regional government was desirable for the Drainage and Transport hoards, whose districts are metropolitan i Mr Hay said the officers'

committee should meet within three or four weeks. Mr A. Kelly, the Paparua County Council manager, was appointed convener. “I appreciate the spirit in which this meeting has been held, and I hope it will continue,” said Mr Hay.