Court overtures move on A.R.A.

Press, 30 August 1977, Page 10

Court overtures move on A.R.A.

PA Auckland Mr Justice Chilwell has made an order setting aside the determination of the Local Government Commission to reduce the membership of the Auckland Regional Authority and to alter its distribution. After a hearing in the Supreme Court at Auck ■ land last week, his Honour reserved his decision. The Northcote Borough Council had brought an application for a review of the commission’s determination. The A.R.A. was named as first respondent and the commission as second respondent. Twenty-five other local authorities w’ere also involved. The applicant sought a review relating to A.R.A. membership and the distribution of membership between its 30 constituent authorities. Before local-body elections on October 8, the A.R.A. was required to review dsitribution of its membership. It resolved to

leave membership at 34, with 26 constituent districts. The Auckland, Takapuna, Manukau, and Waitemata city councils and the Rodney County Council objected. The commission eventually determined the five objections. The commission decided to change the A.R.A. membership to 29, with seven combined districts. The applicant’s grounds for review were that the commission acted in excess of its jurisdiction and failed to confine itself to determining the objections as it reviewed the A.R.A. decision. His honour said that the commission could not determine anything not in the objections. The commission’s function, he said, was to revise, not act as an appellate body.

The five councils had objected to the A.R.A. resolution as their districts would be under-repre-sented. None had requested a reduction o£ A.RA. membership.